Hontiveros: Truth is lost when Panelo ‘translates’ Duterte

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday called Salvador Panelo a "Duterte translator" after the presidential spokesperson once again found himself having to explain away a remark made by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Kung may Google Translator, may Duterte translator din. ‘Yan si Sec Panelo. Kapag sinabi ng Pangulo ang kulay ay pula, kay Sec Panelo, ito ay itim. Kapag nambastos ng kababaihan ang Pangulo, joke lang ito kay Sec Panelo. Kapag umamin ng pagpatay ang Pangulo, slip of the tongue lang ito kay Sec Panelo,” Hontiveros said in a Twitter post.

“Pero may ‘lost in translation’ diyan. At ang lost ay ang katotohanan,” she added.

Kung may Google Translator, may Duterte translator din. Yan si Sec Panelo. Kapag sinabi ng Pangulo ang kulay ay pula, kay Sec Panelo, ito ay itim. Kapag nambastos ng kababaihan ang Pangulo, joke lang ito kay Sec Panelo. Kapag umamin ng pagpatay ang Pangulo,...

— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) September 18, 2019

Panelo on Wednesday insisted that Duterte did not admit to ordering the ambush on former Daanbantayan mayor Vicente Loot during a speech at the oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed officials in Malacañang on Tuesday.

"Kung papakinggan mo yung salita niya, ang sinabi niya, 'In-ambush kita.' But don't forget that this President is a Bisaya. Ang talagang sasabihin niya, in-ambush ka na, buhay ka pa," Panelo said.

Senator Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, said, “ang isda nahuhuli sa bibig,” when sought to comment on the President’s remark

Senator Ronaldo Dela Rosa, for his part, said he cannot comment because he was not around when the President made the statement.

“The context in which he declares something must be seriously considered, otherwise, he is prone to be quoted out of context as he has always been,” he said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III also does not want to take the President's statement seriously.

“Alam mo naman si Presidente. I don’t know what he meant. ‘Yung mga ganung bagay, may dalawang facet yan. Isa, sa inis niya o sa init ng ulo niya, he sometimes blurt out things that would be misconstrued,” he said.

He added that even if what Duterte said was true, no charges can be filed against the President as he enjoys immunity from suit during his tenure.

“The Constitution so provides, the President is immune from any suit, di ba?” he said. — BM, GMA News