Q: Yes sir. Alright. Sir, baka may opening statement kayo sir para po sa ating mga kababayan.

SEC. ANDANAR: Diretso na tayo sa question and answer portion.

Q: Alright. Okay sir. Question po galing kay Marlon Ramos ng Inquirer. Tanong po niya: Should the public be concerned or alarmed by the President’s warning that he might suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus. Is there an existing or specific threat to the country’s security?

SEC. ANDANAR: Ang problema natin sa droga ay napaka-lalim at napaka-laganap na kasi nitong problema. ‘Yung pinakita ni Pangulong Duterte na napaka-kapal na papel na nakalista doon ‘yung mga persons of interest ng iligal na droga.

The President is so worried already. At ilang beses na rin binanggit ng Pangulo na kailangan niya ng tulong ng lahat at hindi niya ito magagawa ng mag-isa lang.

So ‘yung pagbanggit po ng Pangulo ng suspension of the Writ of Habeas Corpus. I believe that this is pertaining to our problem, to our problem in the illegal drugs here in the country.

Q: Alright. Follow-up po ni Marlon: Despite the drug killings in the government’s relentless campaign against illegal drugs, the President said the number of drug users might reach four million at the end of the year. But what’s his basis in saying this? Is that an admission of the government’s failure to [stop?] the drug problem within six months, as the President had promised?

SEC. ANDANAR: Ang sinabi naman ng Pangulo before ay humihingi siya ng extension sa operation against illegal drugs. Ito naman ay inanunsyo ng Pangulo sa kanyang talumpati a few months back.

Now, ito ay hindi nangangahulugan na tayo ay pumalpak sa ating kampanya sa iligal na droga. Ito’y nangangahulugan lamang na nadiskubre ng ating Pangulo ngayon lang na ganito kalaganap ang problema sa iligal na droga.

‘Yun lamang po. Ganon lang po ka-simple ‘yun, ganon lang ka-simple ‘yun. Wala naman. It’s just calling a spade a spade.

Napakadaming problema, daming nalululong sa droga. Marami rin mga na-iinvolve na mga taong gobyerno beyond our expectation.

Q: Alright. Question naman po galing kay Ms. Jo Montemayor, related din po doon sa questions kanina. What factors will prompt PRRD to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus? How do you allay fears, concerns that the suspension will lead to Martial law?

SEC. ANDANAR: Ayokong pangunahan ang Pangulo kung ano ang mga kondisyones na kanyang lalagay sa, if ever na sinuspend niya ang Writ of Habeas Corpus for the fight against illegal drugs.

So antayin na lang po natin kung ano ang magiging kondisyon ng ating Pangulo.

Q: And follow-up pa rin po ni Jo: Does President Duterte’s threat to suspend Habeas Corpus means that we won’t see the lifting of the State of Emergency on account of lawlessness soon? And has the State of Emergency been effective?

SEC. ANDANAR: ‘Yung state of lawless violence, ito naman ay inanunsyo, ito’y pinirmahan ng ating Pangulo after ‘nong bombing doon sa Davao. ‘Di ho ba?

So, ang problema naman sa iligal na droga at ang problema rin doon sa terorismo ay although parehas silang magulo ay magka-iba naman ‘yung problema na ‘yan.

Q: Sir, follow-up naman po mula kay Marlon. Ang tanong niya: So the drug problem still worsened even after the government’s relentless campaign versus drug pushers, users, coddlers, and drug lords?

SEC. ANDANAR: Hindi pa na, hindi pa talaga siya, hindi pa talaga siya naso-solve dahil nga sa sobrang dami. It is not an overnight campaign. It is not a campaign that can be done in just six months and the President has already mentioned that.

The President asked for an extension against the campaign against illegal drugs. Hindi ho ganon kadali Marlon.

Q: Alright. Question naman po galing kay Gen. Kabiling, ang tanong niya: Ano po ang safeguards para hindi maabuso ang suspension ng Writ of Habeas Corpus?

SEC. ANDANAR: Hindi pa naman siya ina-announce ‘yung suspension of Writ of Habeas Corpus. It is just an idea.

Q: Alright. Follow-up din, well another question mula pa rin kay Marlon. Sir ang tanong niya: Did the President intentionally skip his scheduled interview with Kris Aquino? While Usec Abella said, the President had migraine, the President himself said during his speech on Friday night that he actually came from a trip to the mountains which he cited as a reason why he arrived late.

SEC. ANDANAR: Hindi ko alam kung… Wala kasi ako doon sa Davao ‘nong nangyari ito. Pero ito lang ang masasabi ko Marlon, the government, the Presidential Communications Operations Office was ready and are covering the entire event.

The PTV-4, RTVM, Radyo ng Bayan, the protocol office were all there and we were also anticipating the guesting of the President or attending the event. And it’s just unfortunate that he was not able to attend.

Q: Alright. Another question po mula kay Jo, ang tanong naman niya: Any changes in President Duterte’s trip to Peru? Apart from attending APEC, what are the other activities of President Duterte in Peru?

SEC. ANDANAR: It’s all about meeting the different leaders of the world. And, also being present in the activities that were arranged by the APEC and Peru.

With regard to other activities, outside of it, I don’t see any in the list that was forwarded to me. And if ever there will be other activities, I will let you know.

Q: Follow-up din po ni Jo: Will President Duterte have any activity in New Zealand during the stopover?

SEC. ANDANAR: I think the stopover will just be not more than 24 hours or it is really just a stopover to ano, to take a rest because you know, it’s difficult to travel more than 24 hours going to Peru.

It’s just literally a two-hour stopover. And you can just imagine the toll it will ano, that it will… effect on the President’s body and the rest of the contingent.

Also, we have to consider the jetlag and the time zones that you have to adjust to. So, for now, ang pagkakaintindi ko po ‘yung stopover sa New Zealand ay it’s really just a time to ano, time to rest.

But if there are other activities that will be listed, hindi natin alam, things change, activities change. We don’t know if there will be an activity with the Filipino community or with other officials of government of New Zealand and it remains to be seen. 

Q: Alright. Question naman galing po kay Efren Montano. Meron na daw po bang appointment for MTRCB chairman or if he’s retaining the current chair?

SEC. ANDANAR: I’m not too sure about that. I will find out this Monday.

Q: Alright sir. By mentioning ‘yung itinerary na rin ng Pangulo. So confirmed na po ‘yung dadalo ang Pangulong Duterte sa APEC?

SEC. ANDANAR: For now, it is confirmed, for now, it can change tomorrow. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Maybe there could be other activities that could just spring up and activities that are more important than activities in Peru.

I don’t know. But for now, tuloy po ang Peru.

Q: Alright. Another question tinext po ni Ms. Jo, siguro related na rin kanina. Basahin ko na rin. President Duterte also mentioned that the suspension of Habeas Corpus will be used in the campaign in Mindanao. So is the State of Emergency been effective?

SEC. ANDANAR: Is it effective already? What’s the question? The suspension of Writ of Habeas Corpus is an idea that was ano, that was floated. Hindi pa naman siya na-suspend ‘di ba.

Q: Alright. Another question from Marlon sir. Is the President complaining about his busy schedule and his very taxing foreign trips?

SEC. ANDANAR: Sorry, paki-ulit kasi napuputol po.

Q: Sir ang tanong po ni Marlon: Is the President complaining about his busy schedule and his very taxing foreign trips?

SEC. ANDANAR: No he’s not complaining. There was never a statement from the President that he’s complaining. It’s just the body– These things, when the trips and the long hours when they take their toll, it’s beyond a person’s ano, control.

Now, pag magkasakit naman ang isang tao, pag nagkasakit tayo, hindi naman natin gustong magkasakit. It’s just really our body telling us that, ‘Hey, it’s time to rest.’

But the President never complained. In fact, all of the trips, all of the activities are being planned by the President. And the President gives go-signal to all of these future events that he will be attending to.

Q: Sir, follow-up ko lang din. Doon po sa hindi po nakadalo ‘yung, si Pangulong Duterte doon po sa event ‘nong ano—‘Yun pong interview ni Kris Aquino, baka matuloy pa po ba? May posibilidad kung ma-reschedule?

SEC. ANDANAR: Anything, anything is a possibility. Everything is a possibility. The planned interview with Kris Aquino was, was on the board at least a month before pa.

It was the project of, it is the project of Joey Concepcion and Go Negosyo. And, I’m aware of the plans. I asked the Special Assistant to the President, Bong Go, about the ano, about the President’s plan also, if he’s attending or not.

And, alam namin that the President was attending. That’s why the entire Presidential Communications Office contingent was present during the event.

It just so happened that the President did not make it.

Q: From Alexis Romero po, clarification daw. So no intention really to snub Kris?

SEC. ANDANAR: No, there was no intention to snub Kris Aquino. Again, ulitin ko po: The alter ego of the President at the Department of Trade and Industry, Secretary Mon Lopez is there, he’s the one who spoke on behalf of the President.

Kris Aquino was there. Joey Concepcion was there. Government agencies that are responsible to cover the President were present.

So there was really no intention to snub Kris Aquino. The whole force of the government supporting the program, then you just read between the lines, that it is supported by the government.

It just so happened that the President was not feeling well.

Q: Alright. From Marlon, may time pa po ba para makapahinga ang Presidente? Kasi kahit sa weekend, he’s also attending events in Davao.

SEC. ANDANAR: The job of the President, including the Cabinet members, is 28… it’s a 25 hour and 8 days a week job. So, we cannot complain. We took this job. We accepted the challenges and the role, and we are up to it.

So pagdating po sa pahinga, pagdating po sa bakasyon. Siguro talagang pina-plano ‘yun nang husto. Hindi mo basta-basta magawa lang na magbakasyon ka.

Just like, just like us in the media. Ganon din po. Tayo sa media… when I was in the media before, ang bakasyon natin is Holy Week lang. So ganon din po sa—

Actually sa gobyerno, is really more than what the media does. We work all-year round. 

Kasi dito ‘yung trabahong tinanggap namin, just like me, even if I’m in a, if I take a leave, official leave from the Palace, you still catch me on my phone and I answer you.

Q:  Yes sir. Alright. Question naman po galing kay Leo Palo. Tanong po niya: As the investigation of Senate is going mababago kaya ang pahayag ni Pangulo na kakampihan pa rin ang PNP sa Espinosa case?

SEC. ANDANAR: What the President just merely said was he believes in the version of the Philippine National Police.

Now, if the Senate finds it that it has to be pursued in the courts, then so be it. Let the cases be filed in the courts and let the courts decide kung ‘yung mga police ba ay guilty or not.

Q: Alright. Galing naman po kay Jo: Will President Duterte have any activity today until he leaves for Peru or will he be resting?

SEC. ANDANAR: Meron po. Meron pong mga activities ang Pangulo sa Maynila. Wala lang po talaga sa harapan ko pero punong-puno po talaga ‘yung schedule.

Q: Alright. Tanong naman po ni Marlon: May date na po ba ‘yung Marcos burial?

SEC. ANDANAR: Wala pa hong definite date na binibigay ang pamilya Marcos sa amin, Presidential Communications Office. Antabayan na lang po natin.

Q: Sir, on another ano, doon pa rin sa Marcos burial. Marami pong nagpahayag ‘nong kanilang balak mag-protesta pa regarding po sa decision ‘nong Korte Suprema. Is the government or Malacañang ready for… Kasi baka mag-snowball ‘yung mga protesta or ano. Handa po ba ang gobyerno to, you know, even face like demonstrators, like… dating sinabi ng Pangulo na pinapayagan naman niya mag-protesta ang publiko, kung nanaisin nila.

SEC. ANDANAR: ‘Yung policy po pagdating sa protesta, maximum tolerance pa rin. Papabayaan sila mag-protesta kahit saan nila gusto. Huwag lang, huwag lang gambalain ang ating mga motorista dahil alam naman natin na ang trapik po sa Metro Manila ay terible.

Kanyang, sinabi po ng Pangulo na papabayaan niya. We are a democratic country. We have freedom of speech. We have the freedom to ano, to assemble and to express our views and opinions.

Yeah. It ano… Life goes on. Life goes on. We can do whatever we do, as long as huwag lang po natin gambalain ang ating mga motorista. Kasi talagang katakot-takot na trapik ang mae-experience po ng mga kababayan natin.

Marami po namang mga free, wide spaces that can be used for these demonstrations or these protests.

Q: Alright. Okay. So wala na tayo natatanggap pang ilang mga questions. Pero kung meron pa kayong statement sir para po sa ating mga kababayan?

SEC. ANDANAR: Wala naman. Just take a good rest. Enjoy the last remaining hours of your Sunday. Tomorrow is another start of a work week. And you just have to work hard. That’s our contribution to society. Well, we work hard and we pay our taxes. We go home, we take care of our family.

At the end of the day, whatever politics we have, we may have different opinions, we may have different politics, at the end of the day, we are Filipinos and we have ano, we have mouths to feed. Most of us, we have families and we take care of our families.

We take care of our families. We take care of the future of our children because the children will run the entire country one day.

They will be the ones who [unclear]… in their turn, they will also be contributing to society.

Let’s enjoy our Sunday. Have a relaxing Sunday. Mahirap po na naii-stress masyado. Pag nai-stress po tayo, kung ano-anong sakit ang pwedeng dumapo sa’tin. Learn how to smile and learn how to smell the flowers. ‘Yun lang.

Q: Alright. Well, thank you very much sir sa inyo pong oras na binigay sa bayan.

SEC. ANDANAR: Thank you. Bye.