No corruption issue in MWSS revamp – Palace

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Corruption was not the reason behind the movement of officials at the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), a Malacañang official said. 

But while Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed to The STAR about retired Army General Ricardo Morales’ entry into the MWSS, he corrected President Duterte’s statement.

“Hindi ako pumapayag ng corruption. If I - pagbalik ko meron… Ang kinuha kong chairman sa MWSS, si Dick Morales, Dick (I don’t condone corruption. I picked Dick Morales to be the chairman of MWSS),” Duterte said last Thursday night.

Medialdea said Morales will take the place of Reynaldo Velasco as administrator of MWSS while Velasco will be the chairman of the MWSS board, replacing Franklin Demonteverde.

The Palace official added that Demonteverde will be transferred to another agency with an equivalent or higher position.

The MWSS got Duterte’s ire after the water shortage that hit Metro Manila and Rizal province for almost two weeks last March.

Duterte warned Metro Manila’s water regulator and water concessionaires Manila Water and Maynilad to end the water crisis or face termination.

Also last March, Duterte met with MWSS executives in what turned out to be a “presidential monologue” during which he lashed out at the officials.

Present at the meeting in Malacañang were Demonteverde, Velasco, Chief Regulator Patrick Ty and officials from Manila Water and Maynilad. – With Christina Mendez