OPENING STATEMENTS: 

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Good morning. Today, to give us an update on the relief operations and programs ongoing in Marawi, we have Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

She’s no stranger to us. She’s already graced this briefing twice.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Malacañang Press Corps, please welcome Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. Ma’am?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Thank you, Secretary Ernie. Maayong buntag, maayong buntag. Good morning everyone.

I have been asked to give you an update on our — this response to the Marawi crisis.

So DSWD chairs the Response Cluster of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The chair of the Council is Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana.

As the chair of the Response Cluster, DSWD is in charge of food and non-food items as well as camp coordination and management.

We work with the DOH, we work with the Security Cluster to ensure the safety of our internally displaced person.

So far, we have — from May 26, that was the first day of response, three days after — we had 9,236 evacuees to Iligan and then as of June 21, when we’re talking 9,236 families, now it is 69,434 families.

The initial relief amounted to P1,172,725. As of yesterday, we — the Department has spent P294 million in kind, the food and non-food items and cash augmentation.

Our field offices in Region X and Region XI work with DSWD-ARMM. As you know, ARMM has its own Department of Social Welfare and Development and it is headed by Vice Governor — the Vice Governor of ARMM, RVG. And we have been coordinating with them, Vice Governor Lucman.

The operations center of DSWD is in Iligan. It is also the operations center of ARMM and then since three days ago, NDRRMC has decided to set up a coordinating center in Iligan itself and not just stay here in Manila, okay.

The nature of the armed conflict is that the IDPs, only about five percent are actually in the evacuation centers, majority are home-based.  

And, it has evolved from evacuation to surrounding cities or towns surrounding Marawi in Iligan or Region X and then in ARMM, we now have IDPs in Negros Oriental. When I was there June 12, there were only 17 families, now there are 30 families. We have also in Region VII, a total of 120 families — in Bohol, 17; in Cebu, 104; in Siquijor, 1.

In Region X, of course we have Bukidnon, the majority are in Lanao del Norte, 19,000, and then Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental. We also have evacuees in Davao del Sur in Region XI.

In Region XII, we have evacuees in North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Cotabato City and in Caraga also, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur.

The biggest number of evacuees are in the ARMM Region, over 38,000 families, okay.

So you can access this data. Everyday we update the data through our Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center and it’s online ‘no. So it’s a daily updating from reports on the field.

I think that’s about it.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Leila Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer): Good morning, Secretary. Ma’am, do we have arrangements for temporary shelters for the evacuees because according to the military the clearing of Marawi might take some time?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Yes. We are preparing for it. We are procuring now family-sized tents. Actually, we have started the procurement three weeks ago in preparation for the return of our evacuees to Marawi City and we hope to provide individual tents per families.

This is… This can be immediately used rather than the emergency shelter assistance ‘no, where you have to wait for the validation et cetera before you can have it. So that’s the plan.

Although, we have problems with procurement because the bidding has failed as of yesterday but we’re still fast-tracking it. So we’re prepared for that.

We have also distributed P1,000 in cash assistance which started four days ago. This is upon the request of our representatives from ARMM to provide assistance to our evacuees because it is Ramadan.

And the family food packs, while halal, you know, would not capture their needs because they need sweets, fruits, they need to break the fast.

We have started the distribution of P1,000 each, all of the families will be provided that. Another P4,000 per family has been budgeted already. Once they are allowed to go back to Marawi to help them start anew.

Also, we have prepared Ramadan pack ‘no to commemorate the end of the Ramadan. So it’s a pack of fruit cocktails, pansit ‘no because…

We have done this before actually. This is a new thing. In 2014, there was also a storm in Leyte during Christmas Eve and DSWD provided them Christmas food packs.

So this one now, we have the Ramadan food pack. We are going to distribute it starting Monday, which is the end of Ramadan.

Thank you.

Ms. Salaverria: Thank you.

Rose Novenario (Hataw): Good morning, ma’am.

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Yes.

Ms. Novenario: Ma’am, ano na po ‘yung intervention po ng DSWD sa mga biktima po ng internal — ng armed conflict po katulad po ng stress debriefing po sa mga sundalo, sa mga evacuees. Ilan na po ‘yung nakapag avail po ng ating psychosocial intervention?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: ‘Yung psychosocial, sa hatian sa Response Cluster, DOH ‘yan ‘no. Department of Health ang may saklaw ng psychosocial. They have the psychiatrist ‘no.

Although, we have volunteers ‘no and we are happy that we have volunteers from all sectors of society ‘no, including professionals. So we’re doing…

We don’t have the data. I think the data should come from the Department of Health, okay.

But what we requested and when we coordinated with RVG is that as much as possible Maranao-speaking because they have — we need to have cultural sensitivity and it can be best provided by the Maranaos.

And according to RVG, they have enough — they have — I’m not saying enough but they have volunteers from among the Maranaos who are psychologists and counselors.

Thank you.

Rocky Ignacio (PTV-4): From Jah Rosales. Ma’am, question niya kung tutulong daw po ang DSWD sa mga families sa Marawi City, ‘yung under 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Oo naman, kahit hindi 4Ps kasi nga disaster ito. So ‘yun din ang nililinaw natin.

Sa panahon ng disaster, miyembro ka ng 4Ps, kasama kasa listahan o hindi, dahil biktima ka ng particular na kalamidad na ito, tutulungan ka ng DSWD.

Ngayon, ‘yung payout sa mga 4Ps, doon tayo nagkakaproblema. May payout tayo every two months ‘yan para sa kanilang educational at tsaka health assistance.

Ang problema dahil nga displaced sila, we have to look for them. Although definitely, wala na ‘yung condition.

They were supposed to attend, you know, may mga conditions ‘yan — family development sessions, they have to make sure na na check-up ‘yung mga anak nila so wala na ‘yun ‘no.

Moratorium ‘yan but the assistance is still there on top of what we are giving.

I would like also to tell you that the… We have the Quick Response Fund, kung nagtatanong may sapat ba tayo na pera? Iyon naman ang malinaw. President Duterte, when we asked him, “Sir anong instructions niyo?” Ang sabi niya, “Tulungan niyo lahat. Tulungan ‘yung nangangailangan.” Tapos ang itatanong niya lang, “May pera ba kayo?”

So I’m glad to tell you that the DBM has downloaded 662,500,000 to the Department as of June 6. So we have been able to purchase the needed family food packs as well as to augment our hygiene kits and non-food items.

At tumutulong ho dito aside from the volunteers who are in the field marami ‘yan ‘yung mga humanitarian groups, the Red Cross, the UN-related, meron ho tayo dito sa Maynila, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have both offered free transportation of our goods sa cargo nila to Iligan.

San Miguel Foundation has offered toll-free passage of our cargo trucks going to Mindanao sa STAR Tollway at tsaka sa SLEX.

Students from UP Manila, Diliman, now, Visayas, have put together ‘yung kanilang relief goods and have asked us to help them bring these to the evacuation centers.

Pati… Definitely, ‘yung mga local government units natin, hindi lamang sa Iligan… We’ve met with the Mayor of Iligan and we’re happy that as a former PNP officer, kita niya ‘yung need for security because they are so close to Marawi and at the same time, very welcoming ‘yung city to assist our Maranao sisters and brothers.

Ganun din ho sa Dumaguete. So generally, ang coordination ng mga national agencies, LGUs, PNP, AFP, tapos mga CSOs, and mga UN organizations, as well as other international CSOs, I think has been very good.

Ian Cruz (GMA): Ma’am Judy, good morning po. May panawagan po ang Ranao Rescue Team, ang direct quote nila, “Please don’t make us beg for Ramadan cash assistance.” Kasi parang marami daw pong nahihirapan na mga kapatid nating mga Muslim kasi pumipila sila, wala silang mga requirements. Baka pwede daw pong magkaroon ng one-time or ‘yung mabilisan na proseso po?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Oo naman. Totoo man kasi ang ating kuwan — ang sabi ni Presidente dapat maagap at mapagkalinga. So we’re trying our best to do that within the parameters ng may mga — may mga controls tayo.

I know how it is. Sa Surigao noon, talagang isang… Marami ‘yung sa earthquake ano. We were distributing goods, but you have to ask them to sign up, et cetera. Tapos ang dami talaga. We decided wala ng signing kasi nga force majeure na.

I think right now, may system naman ‘no. They have started it. I have received reports tapos na ‘yung sa evacuation center sa Iligan as of yesterday. They’re moving ngayon para simultaneous ‘yung home-based. Problema ho talaga natin ‘yung home-based because we don’t know where they are actually. Unless they come to the barangay captain and register.

Ang iba, pumupunta sa evacuation center natin. Remember, only 5 percent ng over 69,000 families ang nasa evacuation centers. So ‘yun ho talaga ang problema natin sa distribution.

But we are ready to give them… Ang DSWD ho talaga kinikilala ‘yung dignidad. I don’t think… Kung meron ho kayong pinapalimos kayo, please report it to us ‘no.

Also, you have to understand our social workers have been in the field almost a month already. Nag-augment tayo, sa Central Office, nagpadala tayo doon ng additional people.

But many of them, from Region 12, karamihan Maranao din — tapos Region 10 – have been doing relief work, have been assisting our IDPs for the past month, since May 26 until today.

Tuesday Niu (DZBB): Secretary, mayroon din po kasing mga evacuees from the Pigcawayan incident yesterday about 1,000 plus na raw po sila. May assistance na po ba tayong ibinibigay sa kanila?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Nagko-coordinate tayo sa ating field office doon. I haven’t received a report yet. Ang nakuha natin ay ang sa floods ano. We had floods sa Maguindanao na 17 towns. We also have a report… Kung may report na manggagaling sa field, it will be put up sa ating DROMIC. You can access it. But definitely, we’re ready for it.

So the whole DSWD is prepared to provide assistance not only sa Marawi but sa iba pang mga incidents ng may calamities. Meron dito, may sunog sa NCR, ‘di ba? May mga maliliit na calamities but the main focus right now is Marawi.

But we’re also preparing Habagat period na ‘no. So ‘yon nga that’s why we’re so happy na this is an all-government effort.

And private sector, the CSOs, and other humanitarian agencies have been working with our government to provide assistance needed by our people.

Henry Uri (DZRH): Secretary, good morning. Ano po ‘yung inyong tulong sa mga taga-Marawi na gusto namang pumunta sa iba’t ibang lugar? Meron po ba kayong ibinibigay like financial assistance para sa pamasahe, doon sa kanilang pagkain, or doon sa kanilang mga llilipatan?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Sa ngayon ho, wala ho tayong natatanggap na ganoon. Pero tinatanggap sila pagdating sa lugar.

Like ang iba sa Marawi via Dapitan, tumawid ng Dumaguete. Pagdating sa Dumaguete, LGU at tsaka PNP ang sumasalo. Ang City Social Welfare and Development Office ng LGU ang sumasalo niyan, iko-coordinate sa amin. At doon ang tulungan.

Kung hihingi ho ng tulong, eh ‘di meron ho tayong transportation assistance na maibibigay.

But so far ang focus ho talaga survival eh sa evacuation center, ‘yung pagkain na kailangan nila.

In recognition pala dahil nga Ramadan at may mga particular needs sila, nag-provide ho tayo ng mga individual na cooking utensils para makapag-decide sila kailan nila ibe-break. Kapag mag-break na ng fast, kailan sila kakain?

Ang habol lang nga natin ngayon, kulang ngayon ‘yung kahoy sa ibang mga evacuation centers, wala na silang fuel. So ‘yun din ang ipinaabot ng ating mga social workers sa field.

Ace Romero (Philippine Star): Secretary, ilang tents ‘yung bibilhin natin?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Eh ‘di kung 69,000 families ito, doon ang target natin ‘no. To provide each family with tents. Tents ng families or household.

We can… We have to validate that. Pero we have shown the tent to our Mindanao colleagues also to ask them kung okay.

Pero hindi ito ‘yung mga maliliit eh, kasi siyempre hindi — malalaki siya, malalaki siya. We have some models doon sa office namin. Nag-order na tayo, pero nga may kuwan — may failure sa bidding. So we’re doing it again.

Mr. Romero: So ilang tao po ‘yung kasya doon sa tents for details lang?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Mga walo kasya.

Mr. Romero: Walong tao.

SEC. TAGUIWALO: May mga bintana siya ha para talaga siyang bahay. Tapos there have been another group came to us yesterday and they’re willing…

They suggested a name na sa India na who can help us also procure tents. Nakalimutan ko lang pero meron hong ganyan.

So right now, if there are organizations who would like to think ahead para sa early recovery na ‘no, ‘yung tents ho ang mahalaga sanang mapaghandaan natin.

Habang ang physical construction of the city is ongoing, may place to stay sila at least ‘yung tents na matitirhan nila. Naghahanda ho ang DSWD, nagpo-procure tayo pero kung may willing hong magbigay… Ang hinihingi ho natin ‘yung malalaki na tents, hindi ‘yung maliliit.

Mr. Romero: Pero mukhang may problema po kayo doon sa biddings. Bakit ho nag-fail ‘yung biddings? At tsaka anong effect nun? Baka mag-fail ‘yung susunod. Hindi kaya ma-delay ‘yung acquisition?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Emergency naman ito na situation ‘no. So we can adopt a — the appropriate procurement system na hindi kasing stringent kapag regular times.

So I have instructed our Asec who’s doing the bidding to make sure na hindi na mag-fail sa susunod.

Mr. Romero: Okay, last na lang po sa akin. ‘Yung P662.5 million downloaded to DSWD, pahingi na lang po nung details nung paggagamitan nung amount.

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Okay. Nasa DROMIC ‘yan ano. So ang paggagamitan naman, family — food items, non-food items, hygiene kit.

Ito ngayon, we are starting feeding program for the children. Nagsa-start tayo ngayon to supplement ‘yung food intake nila. Kasi ang children naman exempted from Ramadan. So we’re also starting that ngayong one month. So that’s another new activity we’re initiating.

Pero ‘yung sa actual na pesos and cents, hindi ko hawak ngayon. Pero matitiyak niyo ho na walang pupunta ito sa bulsa ng DSWD. Matitiyak ho namin na pupunta ho ito sa nangangailangan.

Philip Tubeza (Philippine Daily Inquirer): Good morning po, ma’am. Ika-clarify ko lang po ‘yung figures kasi natin ng evacuees is more than 300,000 persons na. And then ‘yung population po ng Marawi, they are saying na 200,000 lang. So we have about a hundred thousand other evacuees from other places po?

SEC. TAGUIWALO: Oo nga. From other places, yes. Meron tayong from Marantao, Lanao del Sur, an outlying municipality na may 13 barangays. So isa ‘yan. 

Ah, so 2,000 noon ang ah — ang population noong 2010, less than 200,000. Tapos ngayon, 200,000 nitong 2015. Now, we have over 300 — almost 340,000.

So dalawa ‘yan. May outlying. Pangalawa, mobile ho sila. ‘Yun ang isang theory natin. May ibang pupunta sa evacuation centers, aalis, magho-home-based sila.

Like for example, ‘no, Pwedeng may… May pumunta ng Tacloban yesterday, eh. So nag-report na ‘yung ating field office, may sinasalo sila doon na families. So may duplication doon na posible.

Meron bang nagte-take advantage nito para makakuha ng family food packs? Posible. Pero, you know, talagang sa sitwasyon na ganito, ano ba naman ‘yung anim na kilong bigas at tsaka apat na… So sa amin, hindi problema.

I think, ‘yung concern lang ng ating mga social workers, ‘yung proof ba. Kasi kung hindi, sila ang hahabulin ng COA.

So while we would like to fast track it, ipinapaliwanag din natin sa mga mamamayan ‘yung iba nun, ayaw mag-register, eh, ng pangalan. Ang tanong, bakit ayaw nilang mag-register? Pride, sabi. Pride, sabi nang iba. But now, they’re registering.

So, ‘yun na lang ho ‘yun. Hindi namin pwedeng walang — walang documentation. Kailangan ng documentation. 

But, we said, ang parameters should not be that strict na magfo-fall sa cracks iyong talagang nangangailangan.

Pwedeng may pumasok na ilan na hindi talaga biktima, but I think hindi siya major, major.

Mr. Tubeza: So, ma’am, patuloy pa rin po na may pumapasok hanggang ngayon?

SECRETARY TAGUIWALO: Na?

Mr. Tubeza: Na mga evacuees? May pumapasok pa po sa mga evacuation centers?

SECRETARY TAGUIWALO: Yes, pero… Kasi nga dumadagdag ng data eh. The other day, 62,000, 67, ngayon 69,000.

Ah, tingnan natin kung nagpa-plateau na siya. Naggawa na kami ng kuwan ano naggawa… And I think nasa PowerPoint namin ‘yan. Ah, may ginawa kami na graph. Ipakita lang natin, ano? Sa last na mga parts ‘yan, no? It’s a graph.

Anyway, parang nagpa-plateau na siya. Pero we’re talking 70,000 families. Noon, pinaghandaan lang namin, 30,000 families eh, para sa distribution ng 1,000. Nagdagdag kami, ito na ‘yun, ‘yung affected families.

[Shows graph]

‘Yan. Kita mo ‘yun? So the red ones, ito ‘yung home-based. ‘Yung sa evacuation centers, ito ‘yung blue ones.

At kita mong paglaki, from less than 10,000 tapos ito ngayon na 69,000. So we have tried to put together… Everyday we have a DROMIC  report.

Mr. Tubeza: Thank you po, ma’am.

Rosalie Coz (UNTV): Hi, ma’am, good morning po. Bukod po sa mga ari-arian na nawala sa mga Marawi residents, wala rin po silang pangkabuhayan. Ano po ‘yung assistance ng pamahalaan para naman po sa livelihood lalo na po wala silang document kung gusto nilang mag-apply ng trabaho? Ano po ‘yung nap— ah napag-usapan na po sa pamahalaan regarding po dito?

SECRETARY TAGUIWALO: Okay. Sa rehabilitation, reconstruction na ‘yan. Definitely, may pangalawang cluster… May pang-apat tayo na cluster for that. It is headed by NEDA.

But right now, for example, sa Dumaguete, when I was there, humingi na sila ng livelihood, eh. And I was so happy to hear that, sabi nila, “Ma’am, ayaw naman namin na magdepende lang kami sa gobyerno, ng pagkain namin. Baka pwede niyo kami bigyan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng hanap-buhay habang naroon kami.”

So nung umalis ako, magkakaroon sila ng livelihood seminar at tsaka tingnan kung anong mga open sa kanila.

We are preparing for that also. Pero ang maghe-head na po niyan, NEDA. I think the President has already announced that he is setting aside P20 billion for the reconstruction.

So ang iba’t ibang mga agencies — TESDA, DTI — kami ho, meron din ho kaming sustainable livelihood programs. Again, as in other mga initiatives ng Duterte administration, it will be a whole of government effort.

Ms. Coz: Ma’am, last question na lang po on my part. Pasensya na po kung tatanungin ko po itong question na ito. Ma’am, kasi po na-bypass po kayo nung June 2. Lalo na po busy ang DSWD ngayon sa mga panahong ito, hindi po ba tayo nagkakaroon ng problema sa pag-sign ng documents since wala pa pong ad interim appointment?

SECRETARY TAGUIWALO: ‘Yun ang magandang tanong, ano. Anyway, ah… The…

Sabi ko nga, I serve at the pleasure of the President, okay? So, the President has been communicating with me through SAP Bong Go, and has been informing me of the — of the needs.

I have been reporting to them kung ano na ang nangyayari. So, so far, wala akong pinoproblema, ‘no. So siguro ‘yung mamomoroblema doon ‘yung mga pinirmahan ko na appointments, kung meron.

And I would like also to acknowledge the President went there ‘no sa evacuation center the other day. And as you know, nag-apologize siya. He also left P91,000 para doon sa camp, ‘no?

So, binilang ‘yan. Binilang ‘yan. So, nagkaroon ng caucus doon sa camp what to do with that. Hindi naman pwedeng mag-distribute. Gagastusin nila ‘yun sa paghahanda sa end ng Ramadan, for that particular camp.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Joint Task Force Marawi updates on the rebellion in Marawi as of 6 p.m., 21 June 2017.

Civilians killed by terrorists: 26

Civilians rescued by government troops: 1,658 from 1,645, or an increase of eight

Terrorists killed: 276 from 268. From 268 — that’s about plus 8, yes.

And government casualties: 67 from 66, or an increase of one.

Significant developments:

Monitored increasing willful and intentional arson activities of the rebels in various areas of the city.

Constraints and limitations: the continued use of snipers, IEDs, and RPGs from remaining vantage points still remain a challenge. Add to this the use of combustible materials and other incendiary devices.

Also, terrorists’ use of noncombatant civilians as shields and situating themselves in mosques.

Updates on donations:

Deposited to date, P508,500 from P224,000 the other day.

For the evacuees from Marawi City, Marawi IDP (account number 00000552107136), deposited to date P187,500 from P21,000.

Is the video ready? Yes, we have a short video about, especially addressing the fact that ah… We just want to ensure that the money goes to the right place.

[Shows video]

Just make sure that the money goes to the only designated bank, Landbank.

Again, very specific…

For the families of soldiers killed-in-action, there’s a specific amount — account for that: 00000552107128.

And for the Maranao evacuees: that’s ah… for Marawi IDP… 552… So much for that.

All right, thank you.

On other matters, Philippines-China to sign grant deal for two Metro Manila bridge projects:

The Department of Public Works and Highways together with the Embassy of China in the Philippines has signed yesterday, June 21, the Minutes of Discussion covering a full financial grant for the design and construction of two bridges, Binondo-Intramuros and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridges in Manila and Makati/Mandaluyong.

According to the initial project design, the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge will have four lanes and a total length of 807 meters.

Similarly, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will also have — will be a four-lane bridge.

Further, the DAR awards land titles to Cordillera farmers and turns over a P137.4 million infra projects:

The Department of Agrarian Reform has distributed on June 15, 2017 certificates of land ownership [awards] covering more than 700 hectares of agricultural lands situated in the provinces of Apayao, Benguet and Ifugao to 1,163 agrarian reform beneficiaries or ARBs.

In addition, three farm-to-market roads and five communal irrigation projects amounting to P137.4 million has been turned over which would improve the performance of agricultural production in the areas. 

We open to a few questions.

Mr. Cruz: Good morning po, Usec Abella. Sir, nabanggit ni Senator Trillanes na naniniwala daw siya na si President Duterte ang nasa likod ‘nong move ng DOJ para ma-downgrade ‘yung murder case versus mga Leyte cops.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Versus mga Leyte cops? All right, maybe it’s best to summarize Mr. — Senator Trillanes with the interview that he did with BBC.

When he said that the Senator is seemed to be out of tune and not reflective of the times.

Thank you. Next.

Ms. Salaverria: Sir, did the conversation between President Widodo and President Duterte push through? And can you tell us what they discussed?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: I share with you… We have a prepared statement, I can share with you a few items.

The call was productive and fruitful. They both reaffirmed the need to step up cooperation to address threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism.

Both noted the importance of the trilateral meeting between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to be held on June 22 in Manila.

The meeting also aimed at fostering cooperation on countering terrorism among regional neighboring states. And President Widodo reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to support the Philippines in countering terrorism, including restoring peace and stability in the Southern Philippines.

The President also welcomed the Indonesian President’s expression of commitment and emphasized the Philippine government’s full resolve to work closer together with Indonesia and like-minded states to address these issues.

Ms. Salaverria: So, sir, the trilateral meeting will take place today, June 22?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Supposed to be in… That’s the statement. Okay.

Ms. Salaverria: Sir, who will be attending the meeting? Who will be representing each of the countries?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: We don’t have details regarding the matter.

Ms. Salaverria: Sir, when did the conversation between the Presidents take place?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Last night, yeah, last night. It was supposed to be around 7:30.

Ms. Salaverria: Thank you.

Maricel Halili (TV 5): Hi, sir. Just a follow up on Leila’s question. Sir, who initiated the call last night?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Well, it says that the President received the call from President Widodo.

Ms. Halili: Sir, balik lang po ako kay Senator Trillanes. Kasi during his press conference earlier he also said that President Duterte apparently organized a Philippine Death Squad. Hindi na daw DDS, PDS na. And ang involved daw dito si Superintendent Marcos and also some middle positions na mga members ng PNP. Is there a truth to that, sir?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Really, I think the interview with HARDtalk just summarized everything that he is. You know, he seems to be really given to his huge fantasies.

Ms. Halili: Thank you, sir.

Dexter Ganibe (DZMM): Hi, Sec, good morning. Sec, next Friday, marks the first year of President Duterte in office.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Yes.

Mr. Ganibe: Any message from the Palace or it’s — masyado pang maaga?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Patungkol sa alin?

Mr. Ganibe: ‘Yung sa unang taon niya, sir, first anniversary.

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: You know it actually feels like three years already, right? Considering the amount of work to be done, considering the challenges and all the matters that have been addressed.

But, I certainly hope, I mean this is just my opinion since you asked, I wish that people would be more united in appreciating and not act as if they were not Filipinos.

Mr. Ganibe: Sir, sa loob ng isang taon sa susunod na linggo, may 21 biyahe ang Pangulo, may inilabas na statement ang Presidential Communications Office, nasa US$37 billion ang nalagdaang investment deals and public transactions. Pero hindi po nailagay kung magkano ‘yung naging gastos naman doon sa mga biyahe. Do you have any idea?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Right. The details will be given through… They can request that from the OES, Office of the Executive Secretary, okay?

So again, especially regarding that. You know, I think we need to begin to appreciate what has been brought in, you know.

We need to think a little bit more entrepreneurially and not less as if, you know, parang ano…

Mr. Ganibe: Sir, ano lang, for transparency. Pwede bang malaman ‘yung buong gastos?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Like we said. Did you hear me? I said, refer to OES, Office of the Executive Secretary.

Mr. Ganibe: But the PCOO will not release any details on that?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: They are the ones who are qualified to do that.

Mr. Ganibe: But, we have Communications Office, sir… Magko-communicate kung ano ‘yung—

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Right. There is a process, right? There is a channel, right? We can communicate with them. Thank you.

Ms. Coz: Hi, sir, good morning, sir. Kahapon po denied ng military na spillover ‘yung nangyaring pagatake sa Cotabato. Pero the other day President Duterte said there will be spillover even after ma-resolve ‘yung Marawi crisis. So sa atin po, ano po ang real stand? Is there a grave threat? Lalo na po mismong kami pansin namin na may increased presence ng policemen kahit sa mga malls sa Metro Manila? And is this also the reason why ang Pangulo po ay hindi masyadong nakikita ng publiko ngayon, meron bang—?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: May tatlong, apat na tanong yata kayo doon sa question niyo. Ma’am, alin ang gusto niyong unahin ko? Sige, sasagutin ko na lang ‘yung una. Unang-una, sinagot ni ano… Talagang pinag-dugtong-dugtong ni ate ano?

Anyway, sabihin lang natin ganito. Sinabi po, inexplain (explain) naman ni General Padilla kanina sa akin na ito ay hindi siya konektado. So, hindi siya masasabing spillover.

At ang pagkakasabi nga is, parang opportunistic… It is an opportunistic action coming from the BIFF group. So hindi siya konektado in that sense.

Okay. Pangalawa, kung may grave threat ba and all that. ‘Yun ba ‘yung pangalawang tanong niyo?

Ms. Coz: Sir, kasi ang sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte expect bombings sa Mindanao kahit—

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Kumbaga nagbibigay siya sa ating ng heads up na hindi tayo basta kung ‘yung anu-ano lang, hindi tayo handa sa mga kapangyari sa…

We need to be aware of our circumstances, of our environments. So ganon siya. Katulad ng isang ama na nagwa-warning sa kanyang mga anak na, “Ingat diyan, ingat, so konting ingat.”

So you expect him to be saying that. ‘Yung pangatlo anong tanong po ninyo ‘te?

Ms. Coz: Isang reason din ba kaya hindi po masyadong nagpapakita sa publiko si Pangulong Duterte dahil seryoso o napakalaki na ng banta ng seguridad sa Pangulo?

PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON ABELLA: Style po niya ‘yun, ‘di ba? May kanya-kanya tayong work mode.

Unang-una, hind ba, hindi pa tapos talaga ’yung kanyang pahinga. Pero on the other hand, nakita natin na tuloy-tuloy siyang gumawa.

So iba-ibang workload lang. May ibang tao, you know, they play PlayStation, whatever, but you have— some people are more just… Some people are just busier.

By the way, some questions that were asked, okay.

Bangon Marawi signing. There was no update from the Office of the Executive Secretary. Somebody asked that?

Joko Widodo telephone, we just did.

Where to get the 20 billion Marawi fund? DBM Sec Diokno gave — said that the first 10 billion would come from PAGCOR. We assume that the… We assume that the next 10 billion may also come from the same source, just an assumption. Okay.

Corruption complaints against the three Usec of DILG: Cab Sec did not receive any document. They should be addressed to the Ombudsman. So we defer to the Ombudsman, okay, regarding that matter.

Rappler’s FOI request about Russia and China was denied: It was not denied it was simply referred to the proper office.

On the Court of Appeals ruling versus the Rufinos, Prietos in Mile Long: We respect the ruling of the court.

Likewise, we wish that you have a great day ahead of you. Goodbye.

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