Malacanang fires back at the critics of
the Duterte administration.
This after the Chief executive called
for the review of all government entered contracts.
Militant groups questioned the timing
of the said directive saying this should have been done at the start of the
term of Duterte and that they insinuate the timing so as to divert attention
from serious allegations against the President like the alleged anomalous deals
with China.
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| President Rodrigo Duterte during a campaign rally of PDP-Laban in Laguna (photo credit to Philstar) |
Even opposition Senate Minority Leader
Franklin Drilon gave a stern warning as against the move of the Duterte
administration saying that it should exercise “extreme caution” in reviewing
all government deals, saying existing and binding contracts cannot
simply be classified as onerous and canceled. The power to review contracts
must not be used to harass, the Liberal Party senator added.
Presidential spokesman
Salvador Panelo slams critics of the Duterte administration for questioning the
president’s order and maintains that it is the duty of the president owed to
the public.
"Eh ang problema naman sa kanila, mga kritiko eh – sala sa lamig, sala sa init. Kapag wala kang ginawa, nangangantiyaw silang wala kang ginagawa; kapag may ginawa ka naman, tatanungin, bakit ngayon lang (The problem with critics is it's hard to understand them. If you did not do anything, they will mock you. If you do something, they will ask, 'Why only now?'" Panelo said.
"You cannot
prevent the government from intervening. It can intervene in anything. As
president, it is his duty not only to serve the country but to protect the
interest of the public," he added.
Govt to pay billions of Pesos to Maynilad
Duterte has already
asked the different agencies concerned to comply with his directive “immediately”.
The Justice secretary has already formed a panel to review the contracts.
This directive was
prompted when Duterte learned that during the administration of Fidel Ramos ,
the government forges a deal with
water concessionaire Maynilad that prohibited it from intruding into the contract terms.
water concessionaire Maynilad that prohibited it from intruding into the contract terms.
Panelo said the
provision was the reason why the government lost an arbitration case and was
ordered by a Singapore court to pay billions to Maynilad.
The case stemmed from state-run Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System's (MWSS) refusal to implement an upward tariff adjustment for the year 2013 to 2017. The Singapore court ruled in favor of water concessionaire Maynilad and asked the Philippine government to pay the water concessionaire P3.42 billion in compensation. The ruling became final last year.
"The ruling stated that it was the government's fault because it intervened... The president became angry and said it was not acceptable," the Presidential spokesperson said.
The ruling on the
Maynilad deal has reached its finality and could no longer be rescinded by the
government, but the administration can still prosecute those officials who
allowed such disadvantageous contract to proceed as against the government.
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