‘Pray that nobody will be interested,’ Duterte tells water firms

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said the two metro water concessionaires should just accept the new contracts being prepared by government, or “pray that nobody will be interested.”

In his speech at the oath-taking of newly appointed officials, Duterte once more said that he will make good his promise to send a “billionaire” behind bars, apparently referring to the owners of the beleaguered Manila Water and Maynilad companies, if they will not accept the new water contracts without the alleged “onerous” provisions.

“So tanggapin ninyo ‘yan. Pray that nobody will be interested because I will really if somebody — if I decide to go after you, I will see to it that a billionaire goes to prison,”  he said.

Duterte had earlier slammed Maynilad and Manila Water for allegedly milking billions from their consumers and the government since the signing of the 1997 concession deals.

The President also previously endorsed a Villar-owned water firm as a possible replacement should the two firms fail to come to terms with the government.

“That (1997) contract was never shown to the public. It was kept out, and suddenly we have a liability,” Duterte said.

“Because if we fail to ratify the rise of the rates at their bidding, they incur losses day-by-day and we have to pay. Ang mga p****** i** nila. Lahat kayong mga p***** i** ninyo. Harap-harapan kayo magnakaw,” he added.

Duterte earlier warned the two water companies to accept the new deals without the “onerous” provisions or their contracts will be canceled.

The President also said the water distribution service will be nationalized should the water firms reject the new contract.

There is no guarantee, however, that the water concessionaires will not be prosecuted for the original contracts, he said.