MANILA, Philippines 鈥� While President Rodrigo Duterte does not use 鈥渨ang-wang鈥� or sirens, Palace Spokesman Salvador Panelo said its use is understandable on a particular occasion.
鈥淧ersonally, si Presidente ayaw nya nung mga ganung wang-wang. But I can understand kung kailangan gamitin mo yung wang-wang on a particular occasion,鈥� Panelo said Monday during a press briefing.
(Personally, the President doesn鈥檛 want to use wang-wang. But I can understand if it is needed on a particular occasion)
Panelo said this after Vice President Leni Robredo urged public officials to refrain from using 鈥渨ang-wang鈥� or sirens to warn public to make way for them on roads.
Robredo stressed that its use is an insult to the public because it seemingly implies that government officials鈥� affairs are more important than the commuters鈥�.
鈥淪obrang insulto 鈥榶un, 鈥榶ung wang-wang kasi parang sinasabi mo 鈥榶ung mga lakad niyo hindi importante, lakad ko lang 鈥榶ung importante,鈥� Robredo said Sunday during her radio show.
(The use of sirens is insulting because it appears that you are saying your affairs are not important, but mine does.)
Panelo pointed out he barely sees any Cabinet official who uses sirens and added he himself does not use it.
鈥淪ino ba nagwa-wang-wang? Ako di ako nagwa-wang-wang. Sino ba sa mga Cabinet members nagwa-wang-wang? Ginagawa lang yun pag may emergency, kung Cabinet member ang involved. Kailangan makarating ka dapat doon sa paroroonan mo. Bihirang bihira yan. Kahit ako, bihirang bihira ko makita yun,鈥� Panelo said.
(Who uses sirens? I don鈥檛 use sirens. Who among the Cabinet members use sirens? That is only being used when a Cabinet member involved has an emergency and you need to arrive at your destination. That鈥檚 seldom. Even I see that seldomly.) /jpv