Panelo disputes fare hike statement in PDI article

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo disputed on Saturday a statement on the transport hike issue in an article published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) titled, “Panelo: Stop whining about fair hikes.”

He also showed the transcript of the interview indicated in the article.

READ: Panelo: Stop whining about fare hikes

“We find it unfortunate that the newspaper publication resorted to a clickbait headline. This office has never issued such statement – and the transcript will bear this out — during the Palace press briefing held on October 18 where the issue of transport hike was raised,” Panelo said in a statement on Saturday.

Panelo said during the press briefing last Oct. 18 that the public should “take the brunt” when he was asked about the impact of the fair hike.

“We really have to take the brunt sa ngayon. But if you noticed, there have been changes in the prices in the market, they’re slowly tapering,” Panelo said, as shown in a transcript of the press briefing last Oct. 18..

[We really have to take the brunt for now. But if you noticed, there have been changes in the prices in the market, they’re slowly tapering.]

Panelo then appealed to the commuters for “understanding,” noting that it happened because of soaring oil prices in the global market.

“While we commiserate with the riding public as they endure another round of fare hikes, we appeal for the understanding of the citizenry as the government has no choice but to allow the increase due to soaring prices of oil in the global market,” he said in a separate statement.

He added that the situation on price hike of oil in the global market was just “temporary.”

Another article on the same issue, titled “Palace to commuters after fare increase: ‘Magtiis muna tayo’,” was also published on INQUIRER.net — but this time citing an interview with Panelo aired over AM radio station DZRH.

READ: Palace to commuters after fare hike : ‘Magtiis muna tayo’

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved on Thursday the hike in basic jeepney fare from P9 to P10 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and minimum bus fare from P10 to P11 in Metro Manila. /atm