MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte said he has dismantled oligarchy in the Philippines without declaring martial law and vowed that the remaining years of his presidency will be harsh for oligarchs.
Speaking before the soldiers in Jolo, Sulu on Monday evening, Duterte said he was able to end the power of one family who take advantage of their “political power.”
“Kaya [kung] ako mamatay, mahulog ‘yung eroplano, putangina, I am very happy. Alam mo bakit? Sabi ko without declaring martial law, I dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the economy of the Filipino people,” Duterte said.
“Sinira ko ‘yung mga tao na humahawak sa ekonomiya at umiipit. At hindi nagbabayad,” the Chief Executive added. “We simply put an end to the privilege of one family in using a public resource to protect and promote their private interests.”
While President Duterte did not specify who are the oligarchs he is pertaining to, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque clarified the Chief Executive was referring to Lucio Tan, Manny Pangilinan, and the Ayala Group.
Roque added that Duterte’s “celebration” curiously coincided with the recent shut down of the Lopezes of ABS-CBN Corp. following the expiration of their legislative franchise.
“I go with President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement, nung sinabi nya I dismantled oligarchs sila Lucio Tan, MVP, Ayala,” Roque said in a virtual press conference on Tuesday. “Eto po ‘yung siya mismo ‘yung umaksyon. It’s based on his prior statements.”
“Itong kaso ng ABS-CBN ay kaso na nag-expire na prangkisa at hindi na-renew ng Kongreso,” he added. “It was only a coincidence that Duterte celebrated his success days after a House panel denied their franchise application bid.”
In previous speeches, Duterte referred to the water owners as oligarchs over “onerous” 1997 contracts with the government. He said he considered Manila Water and Maynilad as “big fishes” that take advantage of their consumers.
On Jan. 7, the President gave the two water firms the option to either accept the new water contracts or face cancellation of their present deals.
However, Duterte early May this year, thanked business tycoons Fernando Zobel de Ayala and Manuel V. Pangilinan of Manila Water and Maynilad, respectively, for helping the government respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 health crisis.
Describing the pandemic as “humbling experience, the President also apologized, saying he was no longer the snob as before when he refused to speak with them as he stressed gratefulness for their continued assistance./PN
