No hint of Cabinet revamp: Panelo

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Secretary Salvador Panelo holds a press briefing for the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) on Monday, November 26, 2018, at the New Executive Building (NEB) in Malacañang. (Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has not given any hint of a supposed plan to revamp his Cabinet, particularly to replace Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo dismissed reports that Piñol would be replaced or transferred to another agency after controversy hounding his meeting with the Occidental Mindoro fishermen whose boat was allegedly rammed and abandoned by a Chinese vessel at the Recto Bank in the West Philippine Sea.

“Honestly, I have not heard of a Cabinet revamp. I only hear about that as rumors,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Asked if Duterte is still “happy” by Piñol’s performance, Panelo said: “I think so. Wala naman siyang sinasabi sa amin na hindi siya happy (He didn’t mention anything about not being happy).”

Panelo pointed out that Duterte would usually be frank about telling his Cabinet members if he was displeased by their performance.

“Si Presidente, sinasabi niya nang harap-harapan eh (The President, he would say it to you directly), ‘I’m not happy with you.’ Sasabihin niya sa’yo eh (He would say that to you),” Panelo said.

Piñol’s meeting with the fishermen last week was met with criticism after the fishermen, who earlier claimed they were abandoned, changed their tune and said they were no longer sure about what happened.

Netizens pointed out that Piñol could have coerced them to lie but the Agriculture chief denied this allegation.

Panelo earlier said Palace will await investigation results of both the Philippine and Chinese authorities and compare notes.

On Monday night, Duterte revealed that he already has “preliminary reports” from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Navy on the Recto Bank incident.

China has yet to release the results of its investigation.