Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Incoming presidential spokesperson Sal Panelo on Monday said he did not violate any parking rules, and wanted to correct a Facebook post that suggested he acted as if he was above the law.
A certain Clarisse Evangelista posted on Facebook on June 12, her account of how Panelo refused to move his car after parking illegally at the Greenhills Shopping Center, where she said parking on the streets is prohibited.
The post said that when Panelo stepped out of his car, he placed a Duterte tarpaulin on the hood, took selfies with some people who recognized him, and walked away.
In an interview with CNN Philippines, Panelo said Evangelista’s account was incorrect.
He said a security guard approached him when he parked in front of a drugstore. He asked the guard if he could park there briefly and the guard consented, he said.
“Paglabas ko, nakita ako ng mga tao. Nadumog ako sa pag-selfie-selfie. One of them said, Sir, meron ba kayong Duterte sticker? Sabi ko, bakit? Sir, para pag-picture naten sa background may Duterte … Picture, picture ulit and then I went down to buy that item,” he said.
[Translation: When I stepped out (of the car), people saw me. A crowd gathered around me, asking me to take selfies with them. One of them said, “Sir, do you have a Duterte sticker?” I asked why. He said, “So Duterte can be in the background.” We continued taking pictures and then I went down to buy that item.]
When Panelo went back to his car, he said the guard told him to move to a different parking space. Panelo said his car was parked in a Loading/Unloading Zone.
He said the person who wrote the Facebook post probably did not see him return and move to a different parking spot.
“Yung inosenteng kaso, nilagyan ng malisya [This innocent case was given malice],” Panelo said. He added that the woman is a member of a Facebook group called “Thank you, Mar Roxas.”
Panelo also shared his side of the story on a Facebook post where he called Evangelista a “Duterte basher.”
“I consider such wrongful imputation as an occupational hazard. Nothing however can deter me from pursuing my job no matter the presence of such brick brats,” Panelo wrote.
CNN Philippines tried to reach Evangelista for comment, but she did not respond.
