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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Duterte not too keen on talking to Metro Manila water firms

Duterte not too keen on talking to Metro Manila water firms

Published Dec 13, 2019 12:00 am
By Genalyn Kabiling President Duterte is not keen on talking to the two Metro Manila water concessionaires about the renegotiation of the alleged onerous provisions in their contracts. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the grand opening of the Acacia Hotel Davao in Davao City on November 22, 2019. (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) The President instead left it to Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) administrator Emmanuel Salamat to deal with the Manila Water Company Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. “I’m not talking. You go to Salamat, General Salamat. He’s the MWSS (administrator). Mag-usap kayo. Bahala kayo diyan (Talk to him. Settle the issue with him),” he said during the inauguration of The Tent at Vista Global South in Las Piñas City lat Thursday night. The President would rather focus on pursuing plunder charges against the persons involved in the alleged irregular water deals. “I will just prepare the charges. Kapag hindi tayo nagkaintidihan tayo dito, economic plunder. (If we fail to reach an agreement here, I will file economic plunder). Economic then there is no bail),” he said. The two water companies earlier wrote letters to the President offering to renegotiate certain provisions in the concession agreements following Duterte's public tirade against them. The letters, both dated December 10, were sent by Fernando Zobel de Ayala of Manila Water Company Inc. and Manuel Pangilinan of Maynilad Water Services Inc.. The MWSS recently revoked the 15-year extension of the concession agreements with the two water firms. The contracts, signed in 1997, are set to expire in 2022 but were extended until 2037 during the Arroyo administration. In his remarks Thursday, Duterte disclosed he was mulling a military takeover of the water distribution operations. "Huwag mo akong laruan na takut-takutin ninyo ako na, 'Sige, magsibat kami, bahala wala kayong tubig.' I will order the Armed Forces to operate your water. Sige, sundalo, take over kayo (I told them don't toy with me and scare me that you will leave us without water. I will order the Armed Forces to operate your water. I'll tell the solders to take over)," he said. "Then I will declare a suspension of the writ of habeas corpus but only against economic saboteurs,” he added. The President earlier lashed at the controversial water deals, saying those involved could face charges of economic plunder. He also threatened to expropriate the water operations if he is not satisfied with the explanation of the water officials on why they "screwed" the country.
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