President Duterte last night ruled out entering into a compromise with two water concessionaires, insisting the persons behind the alleged onerous agreements could be held liable for economic plunder.
The President argued that the controversial water concession agreements, which he claimed had bargained away the country’s sovereignty, involved a “classic” case of plunder, a non-bailable offense.
“We paid P3 billion. Panahon ko meron, ewan ko anong lugi ng mga p**…Ngayon seven billion. Kaya sabi ko ah paano mo, paano mo — how — paano mo aregluhin ‘yan ngayon? They say na, ‘aregluhin natin.’ How? How will I compromise? That’s plunder. That is the classic economic plunder,” he said during the oath-taking of new military and police officers in Malacañang.
“Tell me those f*****…Tell me kung papaano ko sabihin sa tao. Sabihin mo bastos, bastos talaga ako. Aba p***** i**, binastos mo ang bayan ko ,” he said.
An arbitration court in Singapore recently ordered the Philippine government to pay P7.4 billion to Manila Water for losses after a regulator disapproved water rate hikes. In 2017, a court ordered the payment of P3.4 billion to Maynilad Services Inc. for its alleged revenue loss.
The President, however, refused to honor the latest arbitral award and threatened to sue and jail those behind the water deals that were supposedly disadvantageous to the government and the people. Among the provisions denounced by Duterte are the prohibition of government interference in rate adjustments and the indemnity for losses in case of such interference.
In his remarks last night, the President admitted that he still wanted to talk to the water company officials and the government lawyers involved in the alleged onerous contracts.
“Gusto ko sila makausap. Hindi to maareglo nang hindi makausap ‘yung mga concessionaires at saka gusto ko harap ng abogado ng gobyerno na p*** na gumawa nitong kontrata ito ,” he said.
Duterte, however, joked about killing the persons behind the controversial water deals.
“Tawagan ko si (Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Noel) Clement. Padala ka dito ng Ranger, magdala ng M16 dalawa. Pag-alis niya.. p**** i*** patayin mo lahat ‘yan. Hugwag ka mag-iwan ng buhay ,” he said.
Duterte also denounced the government lawyers who crafted the 1997 water concessions contracts, adding that they could be disbarred for their action. He said he could “not cannot imagine two administrations allowing our sovereignty to be bargained away.” (Genalyn Kabiling)