CHIEF Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, September 9, said the novel coronavirus pandemic should not stop the government from implementing its projects as he defended the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Manila Bay ‘white sand’ project. He reiterated that a budget has been specifically allotted for it, even before the global…
Despite the declining trust in China among Filipinos, Malacanñang still believes that this will eventually change as Manila and Beijing’s improved ties are reportedly set to bring economic benefits to both nations. A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Wednesday showed that 54% of Filipinos have little trust in China, resulting in “poor” net trust…
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday, September 30, pointed out that the proposal of two United States senators to bar the entry on American soil of Philippine officials involved in Sen. Leila De Lima’s detention came from the minority of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee. “That ban is just a proposal in a Senate committee…
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Tuesday, September 24, said President Rodrigo Duterte will evaluate his directive suspending aid agreements with countries in favor of the Iceland-led resolution seeking a probe into the Philippines’ war on illegal drugs. This is after the defense department made an appeal to exempt military deals from Duterte’s memorandum. “The president…
President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to suspend aid agreements with countries in favor of the Iceland-led United Nations resolution seeking a probe into his anti-drug campaign will not harm the Philippine economy, Malacañang assured on Monday, September 23. During a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified, “At the outset, we assure the nation and its…
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday, August 12, said he amended the restriction on marine survey ships to include China, explaining that granting exception to one country “will automatically lift ban universally” and will “invite bribes.” In a tweet, he said: “I banned marine survey ships, amending restriction to France and Japan by…
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday, August 12, said Malacañang will not meddle in the request of detained Sen. Leila de Lima for the court to allow her to visit her ailing 86-year-old mother in Camarines Sur. “Well ever since, the president has not interfered with any case involving anybody. He never interfered. So the…
Malacañang on Saturday, August 3, slammed the New York Times (NYT) for spreading “false information” about the Duterte administration. In the NYT’s editorial entitled “In the fight to save the planet, its defenders are being killed,” the publication cited a survey by rights group Global Witness that named the Philippines as the most dangerous country…
Malacañang on Tuesday night, July 30, announced that the suspension order imposed on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto operations has been lifted by President Rodrigo Duterte. “The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo in a TV interview. However, the rest of the PCSO’s games with franchises, licenses…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is seeking assurance from China that it will guarantee the rights and safety of Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea following the June 9 Recto Bank incident, Malacañang said Tuesday, July 2. According to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, Duterte made this statement during the 39th Cabinet meeting at Malacañang on Monday…
Malacañang on Monday, July 1 said China disagreed with President Rodrigo Duterte’s suggestion of involving an independent body in the Philippines-China joint investigation into the Recto Bank collision. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, in a media briefing, said the Chinese government does not see the need for a third party investigator. “Ang sabi nila (China), nag-offer…
Lawmakers seek stronger action against Chinese fishermen THE Philippines might cut off its diplomatic ties with China if the sinking of the Filipino-ridden fishing boat at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea will be found to be done intentionally, Malacañang said on Thursday, June 13. “We want to find out first. If it…
Malacañang laughs off rumors about Duterte’s condition Malacañang on Monday, May 20, insisted that President Rodrigo Duterte was actually in good health, saying that he merely laughed off rumors he was confined in the hospital. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s voice was “very strong” and “upbeat” when they discussed the rumors about the president’s…
The Philippines’ recent credit rating upgrade from Standard and Poor’s (S&P) is due to the economic reforms under the Duterte administration, Malacañang asserted on Thursday, May 2. S&P upgraded the Philippines’ credit rating to BBB+ with a stable outlook, citing the country’s consistent growth, solid fiscal accounts, and the economy’s sound external settings. According to…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night, March 19, threatened to sack officials from Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Maynilad and Manila Water for the water supply shortage experienced in certain areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo disclosed among the media what transpired during the 40-minute meeting of the…
Malacañang on Monday, March 18, said International Criminal Court (ICC) officials and prosecutors would be barred from entering the Philippines if the nature of their visit is for conducting a probe into President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. “If they say ‘We will be investigating.’ Perhaps they will be denied [entry] by the [Bureau of]…
President spokesman Salvador Panelo responded to criticism surrounding his comment about alleged wiretapped intelligence reports from foreign governments, by saying that it was a mere “educated guess.” The spokesperson and chief legal counsel said that his claim was “an educated guess on what is happening in the world today. Countries whose survival depends on measures…
Malacañang on Monday, March 4, said it’s leaving the decision to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on whether to submit a diplomatic protest to stop Chinese vessels from driving away Filipinos from fishing grounds close to the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island in the South China Sea. According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the government…
Malacañang on Friday, February 22, stood firm on its “no ransom policy” despite the hostage-taking of three foreign nationals by the terrorist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Mindanao. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that issuing ransom to the terrorist group would do more harm than good as it would finance their acquisition of guns, bombs…
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that first daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio might become the next leader of the country, following his father President Rodrigo Duterte’s footsteps. “I will not be surprised if she becomes president of this country after her father. There are many admirers of Inday Sara – admirers and supporters,”…
Malacañang has answered the Psychological Association of the Philippines’ (PAP) objection to the administration’s drive to curb drug addiction. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo remained firm in his belief that the criminalization of drug addiction by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is an effective strategy to ultimately eliminate the drug problem in the country. “Ineffective…
Malacañang on Monday, January 7, urged the lawmakers to expedite the approval process of the the 2019 budget noting that any further delay in the passing is not a feat acceptable to the Filipino public. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the “unreasonable delays” of the legislation in the approval of the General Appropriations Bill…
The communist insurgency in the country is dismissed by Malacañang as a “failed rebellion” on Wednesday, December 26, as the the rebel group celebrated its 50th founding anniversary. The statement was made by presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo who criticized leader Jose Maria “Joma” Sison’s previous comment about the Philippines’ deterioration under President Rodrigo Duterte. “The…
Malacanang responded to the statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur Michel Forst on Tuesday, December 18, claiming that the report is “reckless and irresponsible” for urging the government to stop the stigma against human rights defenders. According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the report the Special Rapporteur released…
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Saturday, December 1, claimed that the government has made “significant strides” in its campaign against criminality even though results of the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey suggested otherwise. “Significant strides have been made by the current administration through its war against criminality, including those related to illegal drugs,” Panelo…
Amid critics calling for transparency, Malacañang has promised it will issue the details concerning the deals signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s official two-day visit to the Philippines earlier this week. On Tuesday, November 20, Xi and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed 29 agreements, concerning oil and gas, trade and investment, banking and finance, infrastructure,…
FIVE years after super typhoon Yolanda destroyed parts of the Philippines, Malacañang assured that the rehabilitation and recovery efforts are being fast-tracked. To date, P146.156 billion in funds have already been released for the rebuilding, according to the current administration. Presidential spokesperson and chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo cited the National Housing Authority (NHA)’s…
The majority of Filipinos have a positive outlook on the current climate in the Philippines, the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) latest survey has revealed. Results from the September 2018 survey found that 75 percent of adult Filipinos view the country is heading in the “right direction.” Only 22 percent said the country is in the…
Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday, October 11 announced that he will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s next spokesman after Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque Jr. took an indefinite leave of absence. The chief legal counsel answered affirmatively when asked if he would replace Roque, who is reportedly vying for a Senate post in the midterm…
