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'The COVID humbled me': Duterte apologizes to Ayalas, Pangilinan

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/05/04/20200504-duterte-presser-covid-mnib-28.jpg"/><figcaption>President Rodrigo Duterte updates the nation on the government&#x27;s efforts in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on May 4, 2020. Toto Lozano, Presidential Photo/handout</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday apologized to big businessmen, specifically to the Ayala family and Manuel Pangilinan, for attacking them in his past speeches.&quot;Yung mga masakit kong salita, to the Ayalas and to, si Pangilinan, I apologize for the hurting words. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me because if you do not, if you do not want to forgive me, I will undercut you, I will go direct to God,&quot; Duterte said in a recorded public address.According to Duterte, he recognizes the efforts of businessmen in the country to help the government in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.&quot;&#x27;Yung mga big business, let me tell you something. Mayroon tayong mga problema noon (we had problems in the past), which was really part of governance, and which I hope you&#x27;d understand, and it was really part of my sole duty as an employee of the government, who heads the executive department,&quot; he said.&quot;I&#x27;d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us, helping us, you know, provide the necessities of the moment,&quot; Duterte added.He also said he is ready to talk to them, citing that the COVID-19 pandemic is a humbling experience for him.&quot;The COVID humbled me. With the kind of response that you gave, showed to the public. It&#x27;s a humbling experience also for me that, you know, baka kailangan mo rin sila balang araw,&quot; Duterte said.&quot;Maybe, there will be a lot of legal issues but we can talk. I&#x27;m ready to talk and I&#x27;d be reasonable,&quot; he added.Since the start of his term, Duterte has been criticizing those he called &quot;oligarchs&quot;.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/08/03/16/duterte-singles-out-ongpin-in-anti-oligarchy-pitch">Duterte singles out Ongpin in anti-oligarchy pitch</a></li></ul>He has accused the Ayalas and Pangilinan of allegedly taking advantage of their water concession agreements with the government.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/03/19/milked-by-billions-duterte-threatens-economic-sabotage-case-vs-water-distributors">&#x27;Milked by billions&#x27;: Duterte threatens economic sabotage case vs water distributors</a></li></ul>The Ayala group, led chairman and CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, and president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala, earlier said on it was rolling out a P2.4-billion relief package for employees and partners affected by the enhanced quarantine imposed over Luzon due to the COVID-19 outbreak.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/17/20/ayala-to-give-p24-billion-relief-package-to-employees-partners-amid-covid-19-luzon-lockdown">Ayala to give P2.4-billion relief package to employees, partners amid COVID-19 Luzon lockdown</a></li></ul>Pangilinan&#x27;s PLDT, meanwhile, has donated 30 service vehicles to the Armed Forces of the Philippines for use in anti-COVID-19 operations.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/13/20/pldt-donating-30-vehicles-to-militarys-covid-19-frontliners">PLDT donating 30 vehicles to military&#x27;s COVID-19 frontliners</a></li></ul>

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday apologized to big businessmen, specifically to the Ayala family and Manuel Pangilinan, for attacking them in his past speeches.

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday apologized to big businessmen, specifically to the Ayala family and Manuel Pangilinan, for attacking them in his past speeches.