President Rodrigo Duterte demands water concessionaires Maynilad
and Manila Water to give back the money to consumers over allegedly onerous
supply contracts.
In a speech on Thursday before the newly appointed government
officials, the President has again warned that water system will be taken over
by government if these companies refuse to pay back.
"So where is the money? Where is the money of the Filipino
people? Where is the money of the average Filipino na mahirap na magbabayad,
who pays his water bill and he has to pay because if it will be cut off, it
would give him a lot of headache for the day,” Duterte said
“Iyan ang gusto kong malaman. Saan ang pera ng p***** i** na
‘yan? Give us back the money. Give it back to the people and maybe we can talk
about solving your problem. It will not be the problem of this government,” he
added.
The president also revealed that owners of Maynilad and
Manila Water whom he threatened to charge with economic sabotage and estafa
have reached out to him and trying to settle.
“Alam mo, we’re trying to — they’re trying to reach out for
a settlement. Let us see how it develops. Talagang galit ako as in galit. Just
imagine, in 1957, they were already collecting money from the people to build a
— parang ano ‘to? ‘Yung keep — to keep — to give us a potable water or
something na hanggang ngayon wala, tapos ‘yung pera nandiyan,” said Duterte
In December 2019, the president warned the two utility firms
and their owners, saying their contracts violated Philippine anti-corruption
laws.
"Yang nagtatanong kayo, 'Saan 'yung big fish? Saan
'yung mga corruption? Saan 'yung malalaki?' O i-deliver ko na sa inyo ngayon:
si Ayala pati si Pangilinan," Duterte said.
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