President Rodrigo Duterte has refused to enter into any agreement with the Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., maintaining that the water firms committed “economic plunder.” “Alam mo sabi nila na makikipag-usap, may folder diyan (They said they wanted to talk, there’s a folder there). No, I will not talk. Gusto kong kausapin kayong lahat ng mga tao, gusto ko ‘yung mga abugado (I want to talk to all the people, all the lawyers),” Duterte said.

Dela Cruz, D. (2019, December 10). Duterte rules out water deal. The Manila Times, p. A3.