LABAG SA BATAS - Kiko Pangilininan

Labag daw po sa batas ang ginagawa ni Tatay Digong sa mga water concessionaires. Mali daw po ang sapilitang pagbago ng mga kontratang nagpapahirap sa mamamayang Pilipino ayon kay Kikong Matsing.

Ugaling dilawan talaga, pabor sa oligarkiya. Mayaman muna bago ang bayan.?

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Forcing deals on water firms a crime — Pangilinan

Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star)

January 13, 2020

 

MANILA, Philippines — Forcing investors to accept a contract drawn up by the government is a crime, Sen. Francis Pangilinan warned yesterday. 

Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party and member of the Senate opposition bloc, warned that President Duterte’s imposition, particularly on Maynilad and Manila Water, to accept new concession agreements drawn up by government lawyers will only drive away investments that create jobs. 

“Threatening investors with imprisonment should they refuse to accept a government-imposed contract is criminal behavior under our Revised Penal Code,” the senator said.

“Coming as it does from the highest office of the land sends the terrible signal to all investors whether foreign or local that they too can be imprisoned without bail should they disagree with the powers that be,” he said. 

He urged economic managers led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III to “manage and correct the harm inflicted on the country’s investment climate brought about by such reckless and irresponsible public pronouncements.” 

He said a bleak investment climate triggered by such statements from Malacañang dampens economic activity and creation of jobs. Pangilinan cited Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia’s yearend report that said 2.3 million Filipinos remain jobless and another 5.9 million underemployed.

 “We should be part of the solution to address joblessness in the country, not part of the problem,” he said.

 Duterte earlier said the government will present to the two water concessionaires new contracts that will no longer contain onerous provisions, including those that pass taxes on to customers, for them to accept or not. 

If Maynilad and Manila Water will not accept the new contracts, the government will take over the water operations in their respective concessions, he said.

The Chief Executive also said accepting the new contracts does not mean officials behind the onerous provisions will not be prosecuted.