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.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday warned the senators behind the “onerous” contract signed in 1997 with water concessionaries that they would face cases for sabotaging the economy.

Duterte couldn’t hide his disappointment after being informed about the contracts between the government, Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services.

According to the President, the contract entered by the government required them to pay fines if ever that the water companies losses a profit or the administration interfered with them.

“Pumasok tayo sa kontrata na distributor lang sila, but they were treating as if it was a mining gold or diamond, ang kontrata ay napaka tagilid na tagilid,” Duterte said.

“Because if they fail to realize the profit during the lifetime of the contract or in any period, babayad tayo nalugi nila, anak ng,” he added.

Duterte also pointed out that the government cannot do anything to lower or increase the rates of the water because of the said contract.

Recently, an International Court ordered the Philippine government to pay P7.4-B to Manila Water to cover the four-year losses of the company.

Duterte said that he’s planning to reveal the politicians favored the said contracts and file a case against them in the Supreme Court.

“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.

The President said that he already tasked the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to make a new contract and asked the water companies to sign it or else face charges.

Journalist Erwin Tulfo criticized Raissa Robles for her comments against the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games opening ceremony calling her a ‘black sheep’.

In his radio program, Tulfo expressed disappointment over Robles’ criticisms, saying that many people made an effort to make the opening ceremony successful.

“You don’t have a right to be a critic, because we don’t see anything wrong with the presentation,” Tulfo said.

“Ginawa ang lahat ng magagawa at pinuri, Strait Times, Malaysia Times, Jakarta, etc. lahat sila sinabi yung kapalpalkan noong nakaraang linggo ay napawi o nabawi nung opening ng Southeast Asian games, ang ibig sabihin ng mga media na ito, maganda [yung opening ceremony],” he added.

Tulfo said that Robles’ should look at the mirror first before criticizing the opening ceremony of the SEA Games.

“Nahiya ako sa sarili ko, kailan pa ba Miss Raissa Robles na ikaw ay naging pambansang kritiko. Bago ka pumuna ng kapangitan ng kung ano-ano, marapat lang siguro na tignan mo muna sa salamin ang iyong mukha,” Tulfo told Robles.

He described the Duterte critic as ‘desperate’ and looking for attention even if the majority of the netizens don’t like her opinion.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez also reacted on the tweet of Robles, saying that the journalist have the right to express her opinion on the SEA Games opening ceremony.

“Iba lang siguro ang nasa ulo niya, saang probinsiya ba si Raissa? hindi natin siya masisisi,” Fernandez said.

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Deputy Administrator Mocha Uson who also got interviewed by Tulfo described Robles as “hopeless”.

“Wala ng makitang maganda, ang tawag nga sa kanya ng ibang Pilipino ay alien, at hindi siya Pilipino,” said Uson.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISCOG) Spokesperson Atty. Jarie Osias don’t understand why Robles’ made such comments about the SEA Games ceremony.

“Kahit ako po ay tumindig ang balahibo ko, mayroon pang parte na naluha ako, at may parte po na nakikisayaw ako kasama ang Pangulo, so hindi ko po mawari ang basehan ng comment ni Miss Robles,” Osias said.

Tulfo also has a message to the critics of the government.

“Kung galit po kayo sa pangulo, wag niyo pong isama ang mga atleta, itong mga palaro, keep your mouth shut,” he said.

On November 30, Raissa Robles made her controversial about the SEA Games opening comparing it to a carnival.

We havery good choreographers – Steve Villaruz, Edna Vida, Nonoy Ftoilan. They could have been tapped for the #SeaGamesOpening
Pucha. Parang nanunuod ka lang ng perya sa probinsiya nito.

Why did they not use some of our ballet dancers??????

— Raissa Robles (@raissawriter) November 30, 2019

“We have very good choreographers – Steve Villaruz, Edna Vida, Nonoy Ftoilan. They could have been tapped for the #SeaGamesOpening  Pucha. Parang nanunuod ka lang ng perya sa probinsiya nito. Why did they not use some of our ballet dancers??????” Robles twitted.

Senator Miguel Zubiri assured that the host country the Philippines is upholding its integrity in judging the athletes competing for the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

To prove that the judges are having fair with other competitors, Zubiri mentioned a case where a Filipino athlete was stripped of a victory in Arnis after the jurors reviewed the protest made by the camp of Cambodia.

After reviewing the fight carefully, the judges saw that the opponent of Yalong, Veannsonita Si, made more effective blows than the Filipino athlete.

“Lumapit sila sa akin and they wanted to question the result. Bilang host country, kailangang ipakita natin na patas tayo. We’re fair. Pati ako, nakita ko, medyo dehado yung ating atleta. So I said, ‘let’s take it to the jury’. I-replay natin yung fight. Mayroon tayong system, na kapag may protesta, iri-replay yung fight, bibilangin in slow motion. Unanimous, panalo yung taga-Cambodia,” said Zubiri.

According to Zubiri, Cambodia is “hesitating” to file a protest, however, the Senator encouraged them.

He pointed out that like the Filipino athletes, other nations also prepared for the 2019 SEA Games so they should be given fair treatment.

“I’m happy for them. Naghirap rin silang mag-training ng ilang buwan at pumunta dito. Ayaw kong sabihin nila na Lutong Macau ang Pilipinas. Walang Lutong Macau dito. Let’s take it as sportsmen and women. Kapag talo, talo. Kapag panalo, panalo,” said Senator Zubiri.

“In this case, nanalo yung Cambodia and I’m happy for them. We want to show that this sport is fair, our judging is fair. There’s a protest system that we’re using, we have our playback system. Makikita talaga kung panalo or talo. We let the system work. We checked it on the play back system and we had our board of jurors who checked it out at nakita talaga, panalo si Cambodian. So let’s give it to her.”

He also has a message to Yalong, who got devastated by the reversal of the decision.

“I didn’t have a chance to talk to her (Eza). Pero alam mo, ako naging atleta rin ako. Even if manalo ako at hindi mo deserved, masakit rin yun. Hindi ka makakatulog. Gusto mong lapitan yung kalaban mo at sabihin sa kanya na you won. This is martial arts. Honor system yan,” said Zubiri.

It was reported that Yalong still couldn’t believe that she lost her match against Si.

“I was not properly informed of what happened. Feeling ko ako talaga yung nanalo,” said Yalong.