President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The President said on Tuesday he prefers the installation of a revolutionary government rather than to declare martial law or support a military-led coup if he cannot complete his six-year term.
“You know, I said if I do not make it, huwag ninyong bitawan ito (Do not drop this). I’m not saying you initiate something like coup d’état. Huwag, kasi hindi na ‘yan tanggap ng Pilipino, eh (Don’t do that because Filipinos don’t accept that anymore),” he said at the oath-taking ceremony of newly promoted fire, jail, and coast guard officials in Malacañang.
“If you want an outright…huwag martial law (not martial law). Mag-revolutionary government ka na lang. Diretso na. (It’s better to install a revolutionary government. It’s direct.) Tapos (then) you start to correct everything,” he added.
The President made the remarks after discussing anew his resolve to run after those behind the controversial water concession deals.
Duterte raised the possible expropriation of water operations from Manila Water Co., Inc. and Maynilad Water Services, Inc. if he is not satisfied with their explanations about the alleged onerous provisions in the agreements.
He said he wants to confront the water concessionaires as well as government lawyers involved in the deals to ask them why they “screwed” the country.
Duterte earlier threatened to sue them for economic sabotage for the disadvantageous provisions, including the prohibition on government from interfering with rate setting and allowing indemnity in case of such interference.
He also declined to enter into a compromise deal with the water firms.
“Tapos kung magpayag kasi ako na mag-areglo (Because if I allow a compromise), then I will just simply drop the spectacle of the rampage that entailed in the previous years. Trillion ‘yan,” he said.
Last Monday, the President asked the help of the military and police to recover the “stolen” public funds if he is unable to complete his term. He said they should not allow the water concessionaires to get away with their offenses.
“If I do not make it to the finish line, at the end of my term….hingiin ko lang sa inyo ito, trillion ‘yan. Kaya ang hingiin ko sa military pati pulis (I will just ask you, this amounts to trillions. So I ask the military and police), you are one of the pressure group in a democracy, the other one are the Congress… Pero huwag kayong pumayag na hindi marekober ng bayan ang ninakaw nila (do not let it happen that the nation does not recover the money they stole),” he said.
Source and Original Article:>>> Manila Bulletin
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