Duterte to investigate any private firm which have anomalous contracts with gov’t: Panelo

January 19, 2020

Malacanang on Sunday said President Rodrigo Duterte will investigate any private company which have anomalous contracts with the government.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Duterte in speech last Friday said he would review next the government’s contract with the Ayala- Pangilinan owned Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRT).

Ayala Corporation owns Manila Water while Manny Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) owns a controlling stake in the other water concessionaire, Maynilad.

Both water concessionaires are also facing problems over their contracts with the government.

Panelo said not only the two companies are under investigation and review but all anomalous contracts the government have with private companies.

“As long as there are anomalies, not only with Ayala (Corp. but) all. All anomalous contracts, onerous provisions will be reviewed,” he said.

Panelo said the government will also look on the lease contract of Ayala’s UP Technohub.

“I read in the internet that (in) the TechnoHub in UP run by the Ayalas, there are a lot of computations made by the researcher and it appears that whole land is being rented by the Ayalas at less than P20 per square meter for 25 years. If that is true, that will be a big problem,” Panelo said.

In a TV interview, Duterte said he ordered the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice to check all exisiting government contracts. Ella Dionisio/DMS