MANILA, Philippines — Tagged by critics as a human rights violator, President Duterte came out swinging again on Thursday against two major water concessionaires in the country whom he placed on his virtual “hit list” for being “crazy rich.”
“There are rich people in the Philippines who are crazy. They’re the ones we should kill,” Duterte said during a speech in Leyte the other night. “Just wait for my signal. Behind a killing is a leader, especially if his followers are stupid and would just fire whenever they are told to.”
The President made the statement while he raised hell anew against Maynilad Water and Manila Water during simple ceremonies for the distribution of benefit packages for former rebels in San Isidro, Leyte last Thursday.
“You know, in our society, there really is a… perhaps you don’t fully understand this, but the Philippines has been gravely fooled by the rich people in the Philippines. Just like Ayala and Pangilinan who own Globe and Smart. They are all thieves, those sons of b******. That’s the whole truth,” said Duterte, speaking in the local Visayan dialect.
While the government is reviewing the water concession agreements, the President continued pouncing on the two firms he claimed to have ripped off the public over their alleged onerous contracts.
During the event, Duterte spoke mainly in the Visayan language, but Malacañang provided an official transcript with English translations that made clear the President’s sentiments over pressing issues of the day.
“They are listening now because this is being broadcast nationwide. Well it’s good for them to hear this. They have violated the rights of people. They are just distributors of water yet they have become millionaires because they overpowered the Filipino. That’s why I am angry at them,” he added.
Manila Water is part of the Ayala Group of Companies while Metro Pacific Investments Corp. led by businessman Manny Pangilinan and DMCI Holdings Inc. have control over Maynilad.
Por la patria
Knowing that he is facing tough and powerful competition, Duterte then addressed the military, ordering them to continue the fight if he is unable to finish his term.
The commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines touched on the so-called patriotic duty of the military when he called on them to “finish the fight” in case he does not make it to the end.
“Now we are fighting. I told them to try their best,” he said. “If they kill me… That’s what I’ve been telling the military. We have the same duties. We love our country. And if I don’t get to the finish line, don’t give up on this fight against the rich people because… To use a very obscene word, they really f***** us.”
He also suggested that they launch a coup if his term is ended unceremoniously as he warned of repercussions.
“They are abusive. That is why I told the military that if I cannot reach the finish line, if you really love your country – you even plot a coup d’état, you unseat a president – don’t forget this. Don’t plot a coup d’état, don’t rebel. Just nudge them. Nudge them gently like... Don’t go into that because it would be difficult,” Duterte said.
If he would have his way, he said he wants to go down in history as the only Philippine leader who walked the extra mile to protect the interests of the greater majority of Filipinos, and rose up against the rich who virtually run the country.
“That is why I am angry at the rich people. But there are many rich people who are good, those who have a conscience. But these guys, they own it all. All the businesses in the Philippines. The greed in you is insatiable,” he added.
Duterte minced no words in dressing down the officials of the two water firms – the latest corporations that got the President’s attention – in addition to a cigarette firm, a national newspaper, a news online site and a radio/television station now on the verge of losing its franchise.