President Rodrigo Duterte warned Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon that he would face the consequences if he’s one of the politicians who favored the “onerous” contract between the government and water companies.
In his speech on Tuesday, Duterte revealed that Drilon already cautioned him on trying to revising the said contracts because the government might pay billions of pesos.
The incident made the President think if Drilon is one of the politicians who crafted the said contract.
Duterte said that he’s not afraid to clash with a very influential politician like Drilon if ever that he found out that the latter is involved in the contract.
“Ako wala akong (problema) kay Drilon. Pero I distinctly recall that Drilon said something, ‘President Duterte, do not tinker with that contract because we will end up paying so many billions of pesos’,” said Duterte.
“Senator Drilon, are you one of those who crafted the contract? I am asking you. I’m ready to go down. Hindi kita tinatakot. Pero kung babagsak ako, dadalhin talaga kita,” he added.
Duterte was disappointed after being informed about the contract signed by the government in 1997 between the government and Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services.
According to him, the contract required the government to pay billions of pesos to the said water companies if they fail to reach their target profit.
He also warned the other politicians allegedly involved in supporting the water companies.
“Bakit pumayag ang mga Senador diyan? Marami ‘yan sila, and we will expose them. And I will insist that they be tried for economic sabotage,” Duterte said.
“Lahat silang mga… patikim ko sila paano ang buhay ng preso. Kung pati ako isasali nila, sasali ako doon sa presuhan, walang problema ‘yan. Walang mawala sa akin,” he added.
According to the Department of Justice, the “onerous” deals cost the government P10.8-B.