Some members of Cabinet suggested a renegotiation but I told them there is nothing to negotiate

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers a speech during his visit to the earthquake victims at the M'lang National High School in Cotabato on December 30, 2019. TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Sparks flew yesterday ahead of the New Year fireworks as President Rodrigo Duterte clobbered concessionaires Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. anew for their lopsided deals which he branded as rip-offs.

In a speech he delivered during his visit to the earthquake-affected evacuees of Cotabato at the M’lang National High School in Cotabato, President Duterte threatened to file charges against Maynilad owner tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan and Manila Water top gun Fernando Zobel de Ayala for syndicated estafa or plunder and have them arrested.

“Some members of Cabinet suggested a renegotiation but I told them there is nothing to negotiate in a contract that is null and void from the very beginning,” he noted.

“In that contract, the Philippines agreed to waive sovereignty, you cannot do that,” according to the President.

“Even the taxes, they passed on to consumers. That’s a rip-off,” the livid President said.

Mr. Duterte once again lambasted water concessionaires Maynilad and Manila Water for the onerous water deal with the government.

“I will order the military to take over. Stop the abuses, I will expropriate it,” the President warned.

“Since you are asking where is the big fish? where are the corrupt officials? I will deliver them to you, who are (Fernando Zobel de) Ayala and (Manuel V.) Pangilinan. If these fools make a mistake, I will surely have them arrested,” President Duterte noted.

“As you can see, whatever insult I throw at them, they are not answering. I am sure, swak sila (they’re both in the bag). Syndicated estafa,” he added.

In his speech, President Duterte told the crowd that even though Ayala and Pangilinan are just distributors of water in the west and east zones of Metro Manila and nearby areas, they act as if they own the water resources.

“You know what the fools do? They are mere distributors and as it turned out, they now are among the richest. In the contract signed, water is just a commodity. It is not a part of the natural resource of the country. Which is really a crooked way of interpreting a constitution,” the President said.

Since 1997, both Maynilad and Manila water collect in its water billing an environment enhancement charges for the building of water treatment facilities.

However, despite collecting the fees through the monthly bills which already runs to trillions of pesos, no water treatment facility has been built by the water concessionaires.

“Then their corporate tax, instead of giving it to government, these are passed on to consumers. Also since 1997, they collect environment enhancement fees,” the President said.

“So what is that? the water treatment facility until now are not in existence. They keep on collecting. Those run up to trillions, 1997 until now. No water treatment. If they incur losses, it is in their contract that consumers will pay them,” he added.

In his speech, the President also insisted that the issue on Ayala and Pangilinan is an issue on corruption.

This issue of the Ayalas and Pangilinan, all billionaires, is an issue of corruption and you duped the public. It was negotiated during the time of Marcos, continued to the time of Arroyo. Then I said no,” the President said.

“I want a billionaire behind bars. You son of bitches. “ he added.

The President, on the other hand, said with uncertainty still lingers with regards to their contract, the President advise those from ABS-CBN to just sell their company.

During his visit to Cotabato, President Duterte also led the turnover of checks amounting to P5 million to the municipalities of M’lang and Arakan, as well as the ceremonial distribution of food packs to affected families.