PLDT acts to improve gov't hotline after Duterte complaint: 'currently taking steps to address the concern of the President'

PLDT image from Google

After President Rodrigo Duterte’s complaint about the poor service of PLDT, the telecommunication company said on Tuesday that it was taking steps to “improve” the government's 8888 public complaints hotline.

Duterte on Sunday threatened to shut down PLDT if they refuse to add more hotlines because 8888 is always busy.

“Og naa moy nakit-an nga corruption, tawga ko o pahibaw-a ko sa 8888. Kin — Bong, padungagi ra na’g trunk line. Dili kaya sa present setup. Sige busy. Ingnang PLDT. Og dili, sila may akong sirhan,” he said.

(Kung may nakita kayong corruption, sabihan ako sa 8888. Kay Bong – padagdagan mo ng trunk line (para sa mga reklamo). Hindi maaring laging busy ang hotline tulad ngayon. Sabihan mo (Bong Go) ang PLDT. Kung ayaw nila, ipapasara ko sila.)

“Oo. Tinuod na. Di lang ko gustong manghambog. Naay utang sa gobyerno eight billion. Sukad pa na niadto. Way presidente nakapaningil. Pagka presidente nako ana ko,” Duterte added.

(Oo. Totoo yan. Ayaw ko nalang mag yabang. May utang yan sa gobyerno na 8 billion. Simula pa noon. Walang presidente ang nakapaningil. Noong ako ang naupo, ganito ako.)

In response, PLDT spokesman Ramon Isberto said: "We are currently taking steps to address the concern expressed by the President to improve the public's access to the Citizen's Complaint Center 8888 hotline number."

Reportedly, PLDT shares went down by  1.35 percent late on Tuesday, few days after Duterte's pronouncement.