Secretary Salvador S. PaneloChief Presidential Legal Counsel at Republic of the Philippines
Secretary Salvador S. Panelo serves as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and as a member of the Cabinet. He previously served in a concurrent capacity as the Presidential Spokesperson.
Prior to entering public service, Secretary Panelo was an active law practitioner and handled high profile cases. He lawyered for the former First Lady Imelda Marcos, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, former COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos, former Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and other prominent and controversial personalities.
He is an alumnus of the University of the Philippines, College of Law, and member of the Sigma Rho, an exclusive UP Law greek fraternity.
Secretary Panelo also joined the academe and taught constitutional, criminal and remedial law at the College of Law of the University of the East, Philippine Women’s University and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.
Secretary Panelo was also a broadcaster and political commentator in DZEC, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, DZMM, ABS-CBN, and DWBL.
He is currently hosting the public service television show Digong 8888 Hotline aired over PTV4, (Philippine Television Network) and RTVM at 8:00pm every Friday, and the television talk show Counterpoint, also aired over PTV4 at 2:00pm every Monday/Wednesday/Friday and 1:00pm every Saturday and Sunday. Both programs are simultaneously shown in Facebook live-streaming. Secretary Panelo also hosts the public affairs teleradio show, Sal’s Panel “OH!” aired over DZRJ 810 AM at 5:00pm every Tuesday and simultaneously shown in Facebook live-streaming.
He currently writes a column in the Daily Tribune on its Monday/Wednesday/Friday issues.
Secretary Panelo has also held musical concerts. He composes the melody as well as the lyrics of ballads. His hobby includes playing the piano and tending his bonsai garden consisting of 300 pieces of various species.