Ejercito: Ensure transparent, fair review of gov’t contracts

MANILA, Philippines — Senator JV Ejercito on Wednesday said the review of all contracts entered into by the government should be “transparent and fair.”

Ejercito  made the statement as he expressed support for the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to review contracts entered into by the government, including those with China, to remove any onerous provision detrimental to public interest.

READ: Duterte orders review of all gov’t contracts

“I fully support the order of the President to review all contracts entered into by the government, to make sure that they are not disadvantageous to the welfare of the public,” Ejercito told reporters in a Viber message.

“I would only caution government that the review should be transparent and fair so as not to have negative effects on investments,” he added.

He said the review should  also focus on concessionaire agreements on water and power, which, he said, were “important utilities that impact the daily lives of our people.”

“We have to be wary of debt traps. The least burdensome for the country should be the option,” the senator added.

On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said  Duterte ordered the review of all government deals after he learned of an “onerous”  contract with Maynilad Water Services Inc., the water concessionaire for the west side of Metro Manila.

Panelo said the President directed the Solicitor General, the secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and all governmental legal departments to “review, evaluate, scrutinize every contract entered by the government and/or each agency with private corporations and/or countries.”

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra bared that the DOJ already organized teams to review government contracts, including controversial loans with China. /cbb

READ: DOJ forms team to review gov’t contracts, loans