Senate Supports PRRD In Filing Criminal Case Behind Onerous Contract With Water Firms

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday, December 4, said he fully supports President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s move to amend the alleged “one-sided” concession agreement between the government and water companies Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Co., Inc., and hold all persons behind the contract accountable.

“After hearing his explanation last night on how we are being taken for a ride by these concessionaires, I told him I’m supporting him 100 percent on the issue,” Senator Sotto said in a text message to reporters.

Senator Imee Marcos also expressed her support for the President on the issue.

“Water is universally recognized as a human right, not merely a commodity. I support PRRD’s desire to assail these onerous contract that deprives Filipinos of both their right to water, as well as impose liabilities upon government even when service and supply fail,” Senator Marcos said.

President Duterte said some provisions of the concession contracts of the water firms, which were signed in 1997, are disadvantageous to the public. 

“Bakit pumayag ang mga senador diyan? Marami ‘yan sila, and we will expose them. And I will insist that they will be tried for economic sabotage. ‘Pag di nila tanggapin ang kaso na yan, I will tell the Supreme Court, ‘Now, now is the time that we talk seriously,’” he said.

“Ito ipafile ko ito, economic sabotage and I will arrest them. Lahat silang mga… Patikim ko sila paano ang buhay ng preso. Kung pati ako isasali nila, sasali ako sa presohan, walang problema yan,” he added.

President Duterte did not name the senators whom he would want to be charged with economic sabotage, but in another speech in the Palace, he questioned Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon if he is among those who crafted the contracts.

In March this year, Senator Sotto has filed a resolution calling for an investigation into Metro Manila’s water crisis.

Senator Sotto filed Senate Resolution 1028 ordering the Senate Committee on Public Services and other committees to look into the matter and come up with recommendations.

“If left unresolved, the water crisis may bring more serious problems to the people and businesses in the affected areas, and may impact the country as a whole,” according to the resolution.

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On the other hand, President Duterte said he has asked Solicitor General Jose Calida to craft a new water contract that will be both “favorable” to the public and the government.

“Give it to them. This is the amended contract. Accept it or nothing to it. But I will really run after them for economic sabotage,” the President said.

Meanwhile, President Duterte has enlisted the help of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in the investigation of the contracts given to the country’s two water concessionaires, which the Chief Executive had denounced for being disadvantageous to the public.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica pledged to help assist the President in the investigation “come hell or high water.”

“The President asked me to help him in this fight. He is right, we are being robbed of our natural wealth given by God,” Commissioner Belgica said.

Source: PNA