Q: Okay lang po. We hope you’re fine too.

Q: Good morning sir.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Opo, opo.

Q: Meron ba sir kayong pahayag po, statement para po sa ating mga taga-subaybay?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Ang ano lang po natin ay patuloy po natin, patuloy po natin suportahan ang pagbabago na nangyayari sa bayan. At, ano po tayo… patuloy din po tayo na maging bukas ang ating pag-iisip at [inaudible]

We really encourage people to really go deep into the situation, hindi lang po ‘yung nakikinig tayo ng sound bite, kung hindi intidihin natin [inaudible]

We’re looking forward po sa mga [inaudible] na nangayayari.

Maraming pong mga ano… maraming pong, maliban po sa mga ano ‘no, ‘yung mga, kung baga mga criticisms, marami po tayong mga successes at marami pong advancement na ano po na talagang [unique?] to this administration. ‘Yun po.

Q: Sir, nag-umpisa na ‘yung sa Rio Olympics. Meron pa ba tayong mensahe po sa ating mga atleta doon?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Opo. I’m… the President wishes and challenges our Philippine contingent to give 100 percent and he wishes them the best of everything.

Q: And sir, meron tayong katanungan mula kay Pia Ranada ng Rappler: Has President Duterte given the Marcos family the go signal to bury FM, si dating Pangulong Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Wala po tayong [special?] update regarding that. Wala pong mga… wala pa pong napaguusapan patungkol diyan.

Q: And if ever po — may follow up naman po si Leila ng Philippine Daily Inquirer — if ever po na magka-ganon, ang kino-quote kasi doon sa article ng Philippine Star po si Bongbong eh. So from ano po, ito. Ang tanong naman po ni Leila: If ever po, is there a need for the President to issue a specific order to allow the Marcos burial at the Libingan ng Bayani at tsaka ano daw po ba ang legal cover?

[phone call cut]

[interview continues]

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: You were saying kanina that somebody was being quoted?

Q: Yes po, sa Philippine Star. Si former Senator Bonbong kino-quote. Ngayon po ang tanong po natin, ang tanong po ni Leila Salaverria: If ever po, ‘yung Palace ba ay… si President Duterte, does he need to issue a specific order to allow the Marcos burial at Libingan ng Bayani at ano daw po ang legal cover for the Marcos burial there?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Wala po tayong discussion patungkol diyan at wala po tayong mga updates regarding that so we cannot make any comments regarding the supposed burial on September 18. So, ano po ‘yan, hindi po napaguusapan ‘yan formally.

Q: Okay, sir. May patanong din po si Leila from Inquirer: What could the Palace say about the statement of Donald Trump that Filipinos were among the immigrants that pose a hidden threat to the US and could be linked to terrorism?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Comment po niya ‘yan and he’s entitled to his own opinion but I think he should ano… we’d also like to encourage him that to look into the contribution that the Filipino Americans has done and given to the United States. Very productive po ang ating mga tao roon and they have made great contributions. Meron po tayong mga high-profile Filipinos, like Loida Nicolas-Lewis.

At marami po tayong mga unknowns who have really done so much for the… and contributed to the US government so— Pero kung ‘yun po ang opinion niya, well, he is entitled to his own opinion. But we encourage him to look into what the Filipino community has done.

Q: Yes, sir

Q: Oo nga sir. Tsaka meron na rin tayong mga ano doon, may mayor ‘di ba na Fil-Am?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Correct.

Q: Meron na ring mga ganoon.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Tama po. So siguro, maybe hindi lang po niya siguro talagang ano… Ano lang po, baka he’s just speaking in broad strokes na hindi niya alam talaga ‘yung napag-uusapan niya. Pero it would help him, if he was going to be the president, to really understand [inaudible] niya ‘yung mga, ‘yung kanyang mga constituents at malalim-lalim na po at marami-rami na po ang contribution ng mga Pilipino sa America.

Q: Sir, ‘yung nabanggit niyo po kanina ‘yung doon sa ‘endo’ kasi madalas nga pong nababanggit ito ng ating mahal na Pangulo, ‘yung tungkol po doon sa contractualization. Eh may mga grupo sir na tsina-challenge nila ‘yung administrasyon kasi merong bill na ‘yung ‘Security of Tenure Bill’ na para wakasan na nga po itong ‘endo.’ Sabi nila, sana madeklara po na urgent.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: ‘Yung alin? ‘Yung patungkol— Ano po siya, pinapausad na rin po ‘yan sa ano… pinapausad po ‘yan and it’s also being studied at this stage. Pero talagang nasa puso po ng Presidente talaga na ma-ano po siya, na hindi po magiging unfair para sa mga… Lalo na ‘yung sa mga low-skilled workers ‘yung mga… ang kanilang security of tenure.

Q: Yes sir. Wala na po akong katanungan, sir.

Q: Okay, maraming salamat for your time. As usual, maraming, maraming, maraming salamat, sir.

Q: Thank you po, sir.

Q: And ano po ang mga inaasahan natin na magiging aktibidad ng ating Pangulo besides doon sa mga pag-boost niya ng morale ‘no, ‘yung pag-ikot niya sa mga kampo, sir?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: ‘Yun po ang ginagawa niya ngayon at tinatapos nalang po yata niya then he’ll be back to Davao. And then marami pa po siyang ano, may mga… I think he will just have to finish ‘yung kanyang buong calendar regarding that.

Q: Okay. Maraming maraming salamat, sir. Thank you for your time. Happy weekend.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Happy weekend. Bye.