DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Incoming presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo on Monday, June 13, denied that he showed "arrogance" by reportedly flaunting his association with President-elect Rodrigo Duterte in a parking area in Greenhills, San Juan.
Panelo issued this statement after a Facebook user, identifying herself as Clarisse Evangelista, complained about Panelo on Facebook.
Evangelista said in a Facebook post on Sunday, June 12: "Earlier today, Atty Salvador Panelo was in his car in Greenhills Shopping Center, outside Mercury and Tropical Hut Shoppesville. He was asked by the guard to move his car. He didn't budge."
Evangelista continued: "He later stepped out of his car, brought out a Duterte tarp which he placed on the hood, walked away leaving his car in a no-parking area."
She ended her post with the following hashtags: "#hay #truth #thelawissomeonesfaceonatarp #yourefiredsana."
Evangelista's post, which went viral, has more than 1,560 shares as of posting time.
Panelo: No parking violation
Panelo however said on Monday, "There was no such violation of any parking regulation nor was there any exhibition of any form of arrogance."
In a Facebook post, Panelo explained that he parked his car in front of Mercury Drug and Tropical Hut in the area. He said he sought permission from the security guard if he could leave his car for a while because he wanted to buy a bottle of virgin coconut oil at Mercury Drug.
Panelo said the guard granted his request, and told him that he "could move the car in front of the Theater Mall parking zone."
When he stepped out of his car, "some Duterte supporters asked for some selfies" with him, and he obliged.
Then, he said, one of the persons who requested a photo also asked if Panelo "could put a Duterte sticker" on the hood of his car, "so that it would come out in the photo."
After posing for the selfies, Panelo said he bought virgin coconut oil at Mercury Drug. He returned to his vehicle "in less than 5 minutes," and the guard guided him in parking in front of the Theater Mall.
In that parking area, he said, "the guards allowed other car drivers to park their cars."
Panelo: It's an 'occupational hazard'
"Evidently the person posting such false narration of an incident intended to put my image in a bad light and picture me as abusive. Obviously, too, the person is an anti-Duterte basher who converted a casual incident into a false and malicious narration of an event with the purpose of maligning my person," Panelo said.
"But as a designated spokesman of the president-elect, I'm not surprised at this falsity and bashing. I consider such wrongful imputation as an occupational hazard. Nothing however can deter me from pursuing my job no matter the presence of such brickbats," the incoming presidential spokesman added.
Panelo also pointed out that Evangelista is "obviously a non-existent person as there is nothing in her account that suggests that she exists."
He noted that Evangelista's Facebook page has "no photo, no personal circumstances, no information on her identity."
Panelo is a high-profile lawyer who has accepted clients such as Andal Ampatuan Jr, the primary suspect in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre that left 58 people dead.
Referring to Panelo, Duterte once said, "He enjoys my trust." – Rappler.com