Palace tells Leni Robredo: You know nothing about water deals

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo should stop meddling on the issue of the water concession agreements because she does not know anything, Malacañang said Monday.

Robredo on Sunday said the government should pursue a “calmer” approach in pushing for the review of the “onerous” water concession agreements between Maynilad, Manila Water and the government.

“Maybe, our advice for VP Leni is, “Don’t meddle on something that you don’t know,” presidential spokeperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

“It means, I don’t think she knows anything about it,” he added.

In separate decisions, the Singapore-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ordered the Philippine government in 2017 to pay P3.6 billion to Maynilad and in November to compensate P7 billion to Manila Water for losses suffered by the water firms due to disallowed water rate increases from 2013 to 2017.

The 25-year water concession agreements were signed in 1997 during term of former president Fidel Ramos administration and extended in 2009 through the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration until 2037.

“The President has made a stand and the stand appears to be very effective. She (Robredo) should know that,” Panelo said.

Duterte has earlier said he won’t compensate the two water concessionaires and pushed for the amendments of the contracts, which he described as onerous.