Palace tosses elephant woes to DA

MANILA, Philippines - “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson is in Los Angeles, and President Aquino has no plans of going to LA in the near future.

Malacañang said yesterday the Department of Agriculture (DA) and not Malacañang would determine the fate of elephant Mali.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said yesterday Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. had tasked the DA to determine the appropriate location for Mali after the President received several appeals for the elephant’s transfer to Thailand, including one from Anderson.

“We will just ask Secretary Alcala what the decision will be... Pamela Anderson is in Los Angeles, and the President is not going to LA any time soon,” Lacierda said when asked if Aquino would be willing to grant Anderson’s request “to discuss this important matter over dinner” if he should find himself in Los Angeles.

Lacierda said the letter of Anderson did not give the impression that she was coming here.

“I didn’t even see the letter. Hey, guess what... (Agriculture) Secretary (Proceso) Alcala will be all too willing to meet with Pamela Anderson,” Lacierda joked.

Anderson is a member of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has long been campaigning for the transfer of the elephant, an attraction at the Manila Zoo.