Duterte to run after Drilon on water deals
Credit to Author: Catherine S. Valente, TMT| Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:23:56 +0000
Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to go after Sen. Franklin Drilon if the lawmaker was proven to be involved in the government’s alleged irregular contracts with two water companies.
The President made the statement amid the government’s plan to sign a new deal with Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Co. Inc. after claiming that their existing contract was “onerous” and therefore “null and void.”
“That contract was approved by lawyers now in government. I hope Drilon is not one of them. Kasi (Because) when I decide to — ide-demanda ko talaga (I will really press charges). I will file the charges of — it’s either plunder or syndicated estafa,” Duterte said during his visit to Batangas on Tuesday night.
“At nasabi that the economy will slow down. Sabi ko, “What can I do? There is a serious violation of the Constitution.” As a matter of fact, that contract right at the beginning was null and void,” he added.
The President assured residents of Metro Manila and nearby areas that they would not lose access to water if the government would take over the operations of the two distribution companies.
“Huwag kayong matakot. Maputol tubig? Hindi man… (Do not be afraid about losing water. It won’t happen). P*******a, (Expletive), I will expropriate. I-nationalize ko ‘yang tubig. I will take over,” Duterte said.
“Eh karaming military diyan na marunong. Simple lang man ‘yan. We have enough technical people in the military to do it,” he added.
The President earlier urged Drilon to tell the truth after recalling that the senator once warned him about tinkering with the contracts because the government would end up paying billions of pesos.
“I’m ready to go down. Hindi kita tinatakot. Pero ‘pag bumagsak ako, dadalhin talaga kita. I will — I will… I’m not — I’m not — takot-takot (I’m not trying to scare you but if I go down,
I will drag you down. I’m not afraid). I’m not challenging you. Just tell the people the truth.
You read the contract aloud and say if it is good for the people,” Duterte has said.
“Do not f*** with me — takutin mo ako (you’re trying to scare me by saying), billions of pesos. If I go down, you go down. I am ready anytime. I’m ready to be destroyed anytime.
But I will also destroy [you] because you destroyed my country,” he added.
Duterte was irked by the two water firms after the Singapore-based Permanent Court of Arbitration issued separate rulings, ordering the Philippine government to pay P3.4 billion and P7.39 billion to Maynilad and Manila Water, respectively, for their supposed losses and damages.
The Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System had revoked the extension of the water companies’ concession deals after Duterte threatened to file “economic sabotage” and economic plunder charges against Maynilad and Manila Water.
Both the Pangilinan-led Maynilad and Ayala-owned Manila Water said they would no longer collect P10.8 billion in compensation that a Singapore-based arbitration court had ordered the Philippine government to pay the distributors.
Malacañang earlier said the government was targeting the completion of the new water contracts in three to six months.
The 25-year water concession agreements were signed in 1997 during the term of former president Fidel Ramos and extended in 2009 by the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo until 2037.