In a national televised address on Monday night, President Rodrigo Duterte sent his apology to the Ayalas and Manny Pangilinan after criticizing them for ‘onerous’ water concession deals with the government.
“Naubos na yung pagkasuplado ko dahil sa COVID. The COVID humbled me with the kind of response that you gave, showed to the public. It’s a humbling experience also for me that baka kailangan mo rin sila balang araw, so maybe there will be a lot of legal issues but we can talk,” Duterte said.
Last December 2019, the president attacked the business tycoons for violating anti-graft law. He also accused shareholders of utility firms Manila Water and Maynilad of syndicated estafa.
“If you can find it in your heart to forgive me because if you do not, I will undercut you. I will go directly to Good,” he added.
On Tuesday, the bizmen said they are accepting the apology of the president.
Jaime Agusto and Fernando Zobel said in a joint statement that they have always believed in building strong partnerships between private and public sectors in addressing the country’s problems.