(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered a review of all contracts entered into by the government including those with China, the Palace said on Tuesday, April 2.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte “directed the Solicitor General and Department of Justice Secretary and all legal departments to review, evaluate, scrutinize every contract entered by the government and/or each agency with private corporations and/or countries and determine whether there are onerous provisions in the contract that will put the Filipino people in disadvantage or in violation of the Constitution.”
Panelo said Duterte issued the directive after he learnt of a contract entered into by the government with water concessionaire Maynilad that prevented the government from “interfering and intruding into the terms of the contract.”
Several parties have questioned the $62-million Chico River Pump Irrigation project, saying there were provisions that were not in favor of the Philippines.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio had alleged China could seize Reed Bank if the Philippines failed to pay the loan for the project.
But the Palace denied this, saying the country would be able to pay the loan off in the first place.
