(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Dec. 10, threatened to take over water services in Metro Manila if he was not satisfied with the explanation on the water concession agreements with “onerous” provisions.
In a speech in Malacanang, Duterte said he wants all lawyers behind the contracts to appear before him.
“Isa-isahin ko sila, ang mga abogado ng, p***ng i*a, gumawa ng kontrata. Sino ‘yung mga opisyal ng (Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System). Tanungin ko sila: ‘What the f***k did you do, and screwed the country,” he said.
He said he would “expropriate everything” if he was not satisfied.
“Magdemanda ka nang magdemanda tutal dalawang taon na lang naman tapos wala na ako,” he said.
The President issued the statement even after Manila Water and Maynilad officials told a House committee hearing the water concession agreements that they would no longer pursue the around P11 billion the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Singapore had ordered the Philippine government to pay for losses they supposedly incurred.
The losses were allegedly due to the state’s refusal to increase water rates as proposed by the two water firms.
The Department of Justice has said that while it welcomes the statements of the two water firms, the DOJ would continue to review the contracts.
