A PR stunt?
Filipinos online are not convinced that Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo was merely riding a jeepney to a public market in San Juan City, saying that his recent trip looks like an elaborate public relations stunt.
Netizens took to both Twitter and Facebook their suspicions about Panelo's recent jeepney ride to Agora Public Market on Sunday, raising their doubts on the supposed "commuter" who took the photo because they followed the Palace official even during his time in the wet market.
"Another commuter? Pero kasama hanggang palengke? Ows (But they went with him to the market? Really)?" one Twitter user said.
Another commuter? Pero kasama hanggang palengke? Ows?
— Harry Sanders (@Hyperchromer) March 7, 2021
"Daming time ni 'another commuter' hanggang palengke sinundan (That 'other commuter' has plenty of time in his/her hands to even follow him to the market)," another said.
Daming time ni "another commuter" hanggang palengke sinundan.
— Lanz Ervyn (@Lanzsknecht) March 7, 2021
Some Twitter users also suspected Panelo of making his presence known because he might be planning to run for office in the 2022 polls.
"Panelo challenge again? Tapos hanggang sa pamamalengke ni tanda nakasunod yung commuter or rather to say taga picture sa kanya? Hello 2022 Election (Then the commuter, or rather his photographer, followed him to the market? Hello, 2022 Election," one Twitter user said.
Panelo challenge again? Tapos hanggang sa pamamalengke ni tanda nakasunod yung commuter or rather to say taga picture sakanya? Hello 2022 Election
— Lynyrd (@hellolynyrd) March 7, 2021
"Mukang may tatakbo sa 2022 (It seems someone is going to run for office in 2022)?" another chimed in.
Mukang may tatakbo sa 2022?
— Gerard Duayne Papa (@Gerard_papa) March 7, 2021
On Sunday, a supposed commuter took a photo of Panelo inside the jeepney and while he was going around the Agora Public Market.
The commuter said Panelo was on his way to the market but decided to ride the jeepney to see if health protocols were being followed inside the public transport.
This was not Panelo's first time to ride the jeepney since he joined the government. He first commuted to work after being challenged by militant groups following his controversial statement that there was no mass transport crisis in Metro Manila.