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Panelo to serve as Duterte’s spokesman, chief legal counsel


Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo will serve in a concurrent capacity as presidential spokesman with the expected senatorial candidacy of Secretary Harry Roque, President Rodrigo Duterte's chief aide said on Thursday.

"Sa ngayon po, sabi ni Presidente, concurrent muna si Secretary Panelo as presidential legal counsel at the same time as spokesman," Secretary Bong Go told reporters covering Duterte's participation in the ASEAN leaders' gathering in Bali.

Panelo, who was initially tapped as spokesperson by Duterte early in his presidency before the job eventually went to now Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, said his upcoming task is not new to him.

“Actually wala naman pagbabago kasi day one of the presidential campaign of the President I was already his spokesperson. And day one when he assumed the presidency I was also his spokesperson. In fact the executive order creating this office, my present position, states there I am the spokesman of the President,” he said in a separate interview.

“Wala namang pagbabago. The only difference I think would be I would be more visible this time.”

Panelo did not say when he will begin his new role as concurrent spokesperson and top legal counsel of the President.

Told about Panelo’s new assignment, Roque said: "I will defer any comment [on everything] until Monday since I am in China.”

Roque will return to the country on October 15, two days before the deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 polls.

Asked what will be the Palace’s plan for Roque, Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go said in a text message: “He’s [Roque] still weighing his options.”

Duterte earlier said he was considering Panelo to head the soon-to-be revived Office of the Press Secretary, a move that will give way to the abolition of the Presidential Communications and Operations Office (PCOO) headed by Secretary Martin Andanar.

The President said he plans to make Andanar a consultant and would be in charge of “re-configuring” the programs of state-run PTV-4 "to make it more responsive.”—NB, GMA News

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