Duterte ends rift with Lucio Tan

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday thanked Philippine Airlines (PAL) chairman Lucio Tan for helping repatriate distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and promised him that he would no longer talk about the tycoon’s previous liabilities.

Duterte said he and Tan had political differences but he is setting them aside because of the PAL owner’s willingness to bring home the distressed workers.

“We had a feud but it was not that deep-seated. He made up for it during the subsequent events in the life of a Filipino. They offered to deploy their planes for free,” the President told OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 when they arrived from Kuwait.

Duterte assured Tan that he does not have ill feelings towards him, even promising to protect him and other businessmen from harassment.

“We all have a choice as to who we will help. It’s over and you already made up for it several times. Because of this incident, Mr. Lucio Tan, I’m going to shut up forever. You won’t hear anything from me that you did not pay,” the President said.

“Mind you, I am ready to protect every businessman like you. There is no corruption in this government. If someone asks money from you, tell me and we will send them to Kuwait to have them killed,” he added.

PAL, the country’s flag carrier, settled P6 billion in navigational charges it owed the government after Duterte threatened to shut down its operations

Duterte also thanked Cebu Pacific chief executive officer Lance Gokongwei for also offering free trips to the distressed OFWs.

“I’d like to just say to Mr. Lucio Tan and the Gokongwei family, Lance, in behalf of our country men, thank you. I will remember you for all time,” the President said.