Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo has revealed that President Rodrigo Duterte can still change his mind if Congress will grant him traffic emergency powers.
“When the time comes that he refuses it or he declines it, he vetoes it, that’s the time you make your comments,” Panelo said in a media briefing.
Panelo added that if the circumstances will change, it can also affect the President’s decision when it comes to emergency powers.
“Every person, in fact, not only the President, maintains a position on the basis of circumstances surrounding the basis for that position. But when those circumstances are changed, necessarily, that person will change. So hopefully, the President might,” he said.
On Tuesday, Duterte said that he will no longer beg for emergency powers. He also blamed Senator Grace Poe for sitting on the proposal and blocking its grant.
“Sabi nung isang senador doon sa isang senador, willing daw na pag-usapan. Sabi ko, what for? I cannot complete the project. I cannot clear EDSA with the remaining years of my term. You cannot complete the project within three or four years. Sabi ko, huwag na lang,” Duterte added.
