(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 4, slammed Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for saying the government should exercise caution in reviewing the contracts it entered into and canceling them.
“And the onerous and burden(some) provisions there that the people will have to honor, so you think I will allow it? Just because we cannot impair the obligation of our contracts?” Duterte said during the 31st Annual Convention of Prosecutor’s League of the Philippines in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
“How dare you say that to me, Mr. Drilon?” Duterte asked.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 3, Drilon said that while he was “in favor of reviewing these proposed contracts with China and other bilateral or multilateral international agencies, like World Bank and Asian Development Bank, etc.,” the government “must respect the sanctity of the contracts.”
“..I must caution that existing and binding contracts cannot simply be classified as onerous and cancelled…The government must avail of the procedure outlined in the contract,” he said.
Drilon issued the statement days after Duterte ordered a review of the contracts the government entered into upon learning of a contract with water concessionaire Maynilad with allegedly onerous provisions.
A provision reportedly said that if the government interferes in any manner that will reduce or delay the implementation of agreed water rates, the government will indemnify the water concessionaire for any losses.
