SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – President Rodrigo Duterte was virtually-present in this town and interacted through videocall with municipal and barangay officials with the help of resigned Chief Legal Presidential Counsel Sec. Salvador “Sal” Panelo.

The surprise “presidential encounter” took place at Mayor Arvin C. Salonga’s office when Sec. Panelo video-called the Chief Executive during an unscheduled visit with his wife, Dr. Araceli Panelo here on Tuesday.

It materialized after the Panelo couple had an earlier luncheon meeting with businesswoman-philanthropist Alice Eduardo in nearby Jaen town. Aside from Salonga, also present in the meeting were Jaen Mayor Sylvia Austria, her son, Councilor Sylvester Austria, San Leonardo Mayor Elan Nagaño, Hermosa, Bataan Mayor Jopet Inton and two Chinese investors involved in solar-powered installation projects.

Panelo, who is among the administration’s bets for senator in next year’s polls, was to supposedly visit this town some other time when he returns to Nueva Ecija.

Panelo reconsidered after being told by Salonga that the mayor can immediately set up and organize within an hour a “heart-to-heart” talk for him with members of the municipal council led by Vice Mayor Julie Maxwell and the entire barangay captains’ group here.

During the video-call, Salonga said the President told them that if they need anything for their respective localities, they can simply make a formal request addressed to the government agency concerned like the DPWH, DA or DILG and others and have it endorsed through Sec. Panelo for immediate and appropriate action.

Salonga said Duterte, who invited them to visit him in Davao City, also thanked each one of them for their all-out support to Sec. Panelo.

Of course, Salonga said Panelo’s visit would never be complete without him serenading his group with his own, original song compositions.

The mayor said Panelo was visibly surprised when he arrived at his office and heard the music video of his own composition, titled “You’re The Love of My Life” being played at the adjacent conference room.

“Aba, ako iyong kumakanta ah,” said an ecstatic Panelo, who immediately stood up and joined Salonga’s group inside the room.

Salonga said the resigned Chief Presidential Counsel even sought help from him to organize a forum so he can interact with all the local chief executives of the province.

He added that the Panelo couple stayed for more than three hours at his office and went home at about 8 p.m. after being treated to a sumptuous dinner.

During his visit, Panelo enumerated his five-point agenda to Salonga and his men, focusing on free education for all Filipinos, free medicines for patients in hospitals, a monthly regular allowance of P10,000 for mothers with children, salary perks for all barangay officials and the putting up of more facilities for the country’s almost three million-population of special children.