Who are the oligarchs President Duterte has supposedly dismantled during his term?

Malacañang bared on Tuesday that the President has dealt with the oligarchies involving tycoons Lucio Tan, Manny Pangilinan and the Ayala clan in relation to their businesses in the country.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque however denied that the President was referring to the Lopez family, owners of ABS-CBN network that recently failed to secure a new broadcast franchise from Congress, in his latest tirade against oligarchs.

"Hindi po obvious 'yun (That's not obvious)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Tuesday when asked about the President’s remarks that appeared to target the Lopezes.

"He was referring to the oligarchs which he named and he actually threatened to destroy but reconsidered," Roque added.

According to Roque, Tan has settled his airline's past liabilities with the government while Pangilinan and Ayalas have agreed to amend the water concession contracts in Metro Manila. Duterte eventually extended the olive branch to these businessmen over his harsh words in the past.

"He’s referring po to the oligarchies that he has dealt with personally, nandiyan po iyong unang away niya with Lucio Tan pero nagbayad po ng pagkakautang sa airport si Lucio Tan (He had his first fight with Lucio Tan but he already paid the liabilities in the airport)," Roque said during a Palace press briefing Tuesday.

"Nandiyan po 'yung mga water concessionaires at dahil talaga namang sinabihan niya, talagang baguhin ninyo ang kontrata, hindi dapat maging agrabyado ang taumbayan, kung hindi ay ipakukulong ko kayo ‘no at pumayag naman po na magkaroon ng amended concession agreement ang dalawang taipans na MVP Group at ang Ayala Group (There were also the water concessionaires and because he told them to change the contract, ensure the people will not be aggrieved otherwise he will send them to jail. The two taipans -- MVP group and the Ayala group -- agreed to have an amended concession agreement)," he added.

He added that the President "reconsidered" his stance against the two water companies after Pangilinan and Ayala groups extended assistance in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. "That's a matter of record," he said.

In his visit to Jolo, Sulu Monday, the President said he could die happy after dismantling the oligarchy in the country without declaring martial law. Without giving names, Duterte alleged that the oligarchs have controlled the economy, influenced the elections, avoided paying their due, and taken advantage of their political power.

The President reportedly talked about the alleged abuses of ABS-CBN and the two water companies but the Palace removed these comments from the final speech that aired on state television Tuesday morning.

Duterte's comments about dismantling the country's oligarchy came after a House committee refused to grant Lopez-owned ABS-CBN network a fresh franchise for allegedly being "undeserving" of such broadcast license. The Lopezes earlier drew the ire of the President for an unaired campaign advertisement as well as alleged unpaid debts to a government financial institution.

Roque however believed that it was only a coincidence that the President's comments about the oligarchs came days after the ABS-CBN failed to secure a new franchise.

"I believe so, kasi palagi naman niyang sinasabi sa mga talumpati niya iyong mga oligarchs na talagang siya mismo ang bumuwag ‘no. Ito naman pong kaso kasi ng ABS-CBN eh kaso po na nag-expire ang prangkisa at hindi po na-renew ng Kongreso (I believe so because he always said in his speeches about dismantling the oligarchs. The case of ABS-CBN is a case of expired franchise and was not renewed by Congress)," he said.

In 2018, the President apologized to Tan over his harsh rhetoric against him, believing the airline and tobacco magnate has "a good heart." Duterte made the gesture after Tan's airline company settled its debts to the government and offered to fly home distressed Filipino workers in Kuwait that year.

Duterte previously lashed out at Tan over his company’s unpaid navigational fees, and threatened to shut down the airport terminal if it the debts are not settled.

Just last May, the President also apologized to Pangilinan and the Ayala family over his harsh words after months of public tirade over the alleged onerous water contracts. Duterte said he was ready to talk and promised to be "reasonable" to the water companies.

Read more: Duterte ‘happy’ for dismantling oligarchy without the need for martial law