We are committed to unearthing the truth about the contracts. Those who are involved in these anomalies must be held accountable.

Recently, news articles have been circulating online painting President Rodrigo Duterte and I as anti-business for calling out Manila Water and Maynilad over their onerous contracts and corrupt business practices. But contrary to what our detractors and their well-funded PR machines might want you to think, the President and I are not and will never be anti-business.

In fact, during my privilege speech at the Senate regular session on 9 December, I emphasized our governmental obligation of fostering a country that is conducive for business and commerce as it is crucial in creating a better life for us all. I also made it clear that I am all for promoting a strong culture of entrepreneurship in the country where innovation leads to new enterprises for the benefit the Filipino nation, “Filipino nation” being the operative term.

And why not? How can you not give back to the community that sheltered you? That fed you? That stood by you when you had none? Is utang na loob not an important Filipino value that allows us to strive to become productive, responsible citizens and give back to the country that nurtured us?

It is time to put to rest the erroneous notion that rich people and their businesses are entirely “self-made.” That is not correct. Businesses will not thrive without the land that serves as their home, a government that supports their economic endeavors, employees who keep their businesses functioning, and most importantly consumers who patronize their products and services.

I am not discrediting all your hard work and entrepreneurial skills nor will I begrudge your successes, but didn’t these people play equally important parts, too, to get you where you are today?

Sadly, what the present controversy on Metro Manila’s water services seems to prove is that it is all about the money for these two concessionaires. It is all about the profit. Not only do they pay nothing for the water supply they get from the country’s natural resources, they also pass the burden of paying their corporate income tax to their consumers.

Truth is, since the execution of the contracts in 1997, the concessionaires have passed on the burden of paying corporate income taxes to the consuming public.

This is in spite of the fact that the Supreme Court, in Republic vs Meralco, ruled that public utilities can no longer pass the burden of paying the corporate income tax to consumers as expenses, and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) issued a resolution that bars the concessionaires’ recovery of their corporate income taxes as expenses or costs.

On top of these corrupt practices, the concessionaires continue to exploit the onerous provisions in the water concession agreements to bleed Filipinos dry.

Like I said during my speech, business without conscience is just greed. And it is the job of the government to protect public interest from such greed. The government must not be prevented from performing its duty and right to enforce the law. Private interest must not take precedence over the public good. Any provision in a contract which effectively prohibits the government from doing its job should be considered void.

It is for this reason that I called for a thorough and expeditious investigation on the matter at hand: the onerous, lopsided and disadvantageous contracts. As I have said, we are committed to unearthing the truth about the contracts. Those who are involved in these anomalies must be held accountable. The unfair provisions of the contracts must also be dealt with properly.

I will take an active role in these investigations because this must never happen again. Government officials must always serve the interest of the people and never collude with the rich few in oppressing the masses.

To the ethical businesses that continue to contribute to our nation-building and that generate jobs that lift Filipino families from poverty, the President and I are grateful for the good things that you have done to society. We wish you nothing but continued success.

But to the few greedy businesses and corporations with nothing but profit in mind and have zero regard for the welfare of the Filipinos, I suggest that you change your ways and shape up.

President Duterte and I are determined to protect the interests of the entire nation.

You do not want to go against us and the Filipino people.