Duterte vows to expose former officials behind water deals

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte yesterday vowed to expose the former government officials behind the water concession deals he described as disadvantageous to the public. ?

The deals were awarded during the presidency of Fidel Ramos and extended during the administration of  Gloria Mapacagal-Arroyo. Both are Duterte allies.

Duterte said the public deserves to know why state lawyers allowed the implementation of the concession contracts with Manila Water and Maynilad even when these deals violated the law. ?

“The violation, I said, contained in the anti-graft and corrupt practices are all there. And so the lawyers of government, everybody is trying to be minimalist, they are trying to explain their role as minimal,” the President said during a gathering of Baptist Christians in Pasay City.?

“But I said, even if we renew the contract or not, the people should know... and I will reveal all of them.

I’m just trying to finish the... I will reveal who are they so you can ask them... why did you do it to us? Bigyan mo ako ng sagot, kung hindi babarilin ko yang bayag mo (Give me an answer or I’ll shoot you in the balls),” he added. ?

Duterte reiterated that the water concessionaires are using the contracts to earn huge sums at public expense as he pointed out that he is offering new contracts to the water firms and is ready to “nationalize” water distribution if the deals are rejected. ?

At the same event, he admitted that the environment department cannot improve Manila Bay because of the absence of water treatment mechanisms. ?

“Now, the problem now is... you must know, Manila Bay could never be improved by (Environment Secretary Roy) Cimatu.

All he can do is reduce the contamination. Why? Because there is no water treatment.

Until now, all the wastewater are blown, every day, to the Manila Bay,” the President said.  ?

“And that job was supposed to be done by the one who got the contract of water, sewer and sewerage, which is the two companies,” he said.?

The water concessionaires, he added, are now having “sleepless nights” because of his tirades against the deals they signed with the government. ?

“You would notice that you could hardly hear a wimp out of them,” Duterte said. “Even Ayala would (do) the unthinkable of writing an apology and signing it. I have nothing against you personally but you have to explain to the Filipino people why you did it.”