Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo. Photo by Joann Manabat
CLARK FREEPORT — Gearing up with a possible senatorial bid, Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo met with several Pampanga media at Matam-ih here on Friday.
According to Panelo, he has not officially announced his plan to “walk” for the Senate but he has four priority bills as his main agenda which are: free education and free health services for Filipinos, monthly monetary allowance for all Filipino mothers, and a facility for children with special needs.
“Since lahat tayo nagbabayad ng buwis, and even the Constitution provides na yung budget for education dapat ay mangunguna, dapat obligado ang estado na pagaralin lahat ng Pilipino. Ang isinusulong ko dyan eh there is only one qualification. When you are born Filipino, libre dapat ang edukasyon – elementary, highschool, at college,” said Panelo.
“Habang meron tayong Malasakit Center, may qualifications pa rin eh. Pero para sa akin dapat ang qualification mo lang eh pinanganak kang Filipino, dapat libre lahat yan — doctor, medisina, ospital. Sapagkat nagbabayad tayo ng buwis. Dapat ibalik sa tao ang binabayad nilang buwis,” Panelo added.
Panelo furthered as he shared his agenda that all Filipino mothers, single or married, must also have a monthly allowance from the government. Panelo said a P10,000 cash should be provided for the mothers to supplement their home expenses such as tuition fee, groceries, or for their own medicinal expenses.
“Yung mga ina ng tahanan, I realized kailangan nila ng cash. Sabi ko, since halimbawa meron tayong allowance sa mga frontliners, dapat may batas that will require the government, whether may asawa o wala ang mga nanay, to give them monthly allowance. Malaking bagay yan. Saan kukuha ng pang tuition ng anak, pamalengke, pambili ng gamot, at least pag may allowance every month ang mga ina, kumportable sila. Sampung libo is malaking bagay yon,” said Panelo.
On President Duterte’s endorsement as his “favorite” senatorial bet this coming 2022 national elections, Panelo said there may be a big help on the President’s endorsement but he will not be relying on it as he also needs to do what is needed as well as know the voters’ needs.
Known for initiating the ‘Sara for President’ movement, Panelo has also raised the idea of a possible Duterte-Duterte or a Go-Duterte tandem in the 2022 national elections.
“Ako ang naglunsad ng ‘Sara for President’ two and a half years ago sa Hongkong. And then mga three and a half months ago, inumpisahan ko sa Counterpoint yung “Duterte-Duterte,” said Panelo.
“Naghihintay sila sa pulso ng bayan. Kung sila ang tatanungin, mas gusto nila ang tahimik na buhay. Pero if there’s people’s clamor for you to run and to serve, mahihirapan sila tumanggi pareho,” Panelo furthered.
