Duterte apologizes to Ayalas, MVP

MANILA, Philippines — Saying he had been humbled by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, President Duterte apologized to business tycoons – brothers Jaime and Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Manuel Pangilinan – for badmouthing them in public over what he called their onerous water business deals with the government.

The President aired his apology in a televised recorded address late Monday.

“The hurtful words to the Ayalas and to Pangilinan, I apologize for the hurting words. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me – because if you do not, then I will ask – if you do not want to forgive me, I will undercut you. I’ll go direct to God. ‘God, they do not want to forgive me.’ I will ramble again,” Duterte said.

“Naubos na ho iyong pagkasuplado ko kasi dahil sa (I ran out of grumpiness because of) COVID. The COVID humbled me. That with the kind of response that you gave, showed to the public, it’s a humbling experience also for me that, you know, you might need them one day.  So maybe there will be a lot of legal issues, but we can talk... I am ready to talk and I’d be reasonable,” Duterte said.

Duterte had accused Ayala-owned Manila Water and Pangilinan-led Maynilad of taking advantage of their water concession contracts to “milk” consumers of billions of pesos in water fees.

He had claimed that the water deals were “onerous” because they barred the government from stopping water rate hikes and allowed concessionaires to collect damages for losses that stem from regulatory actions.

The President had also threatened to file economic sabotage, plunder and graft charges against the owners of water firms and to send them to jail.

The usually fiery Duterte, however, was calm and apologetic when he was talking about big business during his public address. The President started by thanking members of the private sector who helped the government provide relief to sectors affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

“The big business. Let me tell you something. We had problems then, which was really part of governance and which I hope you would understand that it was really part of my sworn duty as... an employee of the government who heads the executive department. Words were, well, mainly mine,” the President said.

“But if you just can forget it for the moment, I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us... provide the necessities of the moment... I can promise you that I’ll be nice and if you want to see me, we can talk,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte is open to an out-of-court settlement with the water concessionaires. He said the President and the water firms may discuss how the water concession agreements can be improved.

“I’m sure the legal studies and examinations will proceed but we’re expecting a stronger partnership between the government and the private sector on things that are important in the time of COVID-19,” Roque said at a press briefing yesterday.

“He said issues between these companies and the government can be discussed. So I think that’s an indication that if an out-of-court settlement is possible, he would explore out-of-court settlement. But the issues raised by the President, especially with regard to water concessions, remain,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ayala Group assured all stakeholders that it will implement all necessary measures to ensure uninterrupted services, especially in telecommunications, water distribution, cash availability and pharmacies.

Ayala also said they have implemented various flexible work arrangements for their employees.

“We continue to monitor the pronouncements from the government and will continue to adjust our operations as needed,” Ayala said in a statement.

Pangilinan of the MVP Group of Companies, on the other hand, said they will maintain the salaries and benefits of their employees throughout the period of enhanced community quarantine.

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