Cheyenne Suarez

PrimeWater probe not due to politics: Malacañang

Residents queue for water at Barangay 101 in Manila on January 11, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE 2</strong>) — Malacañang on Friday denied Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that President Marcos Jr’s directive to probe the Villar-owned water utility firm PrimeWater was politically motivated.</p><p>In an earlier interview, the Vice President said she suspects politics behind the President’s order following her endorsement of Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar, who is running for senator in the 2025 midterm polls.</p><p>“We cannot expect anything nice, or any nice word from the Vice President in favor of the President, and of the present administration. She will always use that excuse or defense of pamumulitika without really answering or responding directly to the issues,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said when asked for comment.</p><p>The Palace official urged the Vice President to raise her level of discourse against Marcos.</p><p>“Nais sana natin na kung anuman ang pakikipag-argumento o pakikipagdiskusyon ng Bise Presidente, sana ay i-level natin: rason sa rason, datos sa datos wag gamitan ng masamang pananalita or pagmumura,” she said.</p><p>Meanwhile, PrimeWater said it is open for meaningful dialogue &quot;to resolve concerns and commit to cooperating fully with LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration).&quot;</p><p>&quot;We assure our public that we are intensifying our initiatives to address the requirements and satisfy the demand particularly those in challenged service areas,&quot; it said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;Rest assured that we remain fully committed to fulfilling our obligations with our partners to deliver the long-term improvements necessary for stable, reliable, and sustainable water in our service areas,&quot; it added.</p><div><strong>ALYANSA BETS REFUTE POLITICKING ALLEGATIONS</strong></div><p>Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial bets Ervwin Tulfo, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson and Benhur Abalos also refuted allegations that the investigation into PrimeWater is politically-motivated.</p><p>“Ang ginawa po ng Pangulo it is not politically motivated because kaliwa’t kanan na po ‘yong sumbong mismong mga LGU na kausap po namin dito, kausap po namin sa Pampanga, Albay. LGU na po ‘yong nagsasabi imposible namang hindi nakakarating sa Malacanang,” Tulfo said during the Alyansa Press conference in Lucena City.</p><p>&quot;Ganito na lang, baliktarin na lang natin. Paano kung bawat isa na nasa kwarto ngayon wala kayong tubig. Humanap kayo ng bayad halos ang sama ng serbisyo lahat na nirereklamo. How would each one react?” Abalos added.</p><p>For Sotto, any problem that concerns the basic needs of the people should be addressed right away.</p><p>“Whether it involves a politician or not, or whatever, or whoever is involved, as long as it’s the basic need of the people, therefore the government should address it right away,” he said.</p><p>“That is about time. Walang politics involved kapag ‘yong basic necessity ng ating mga kababayan ang involved,” Lacson added.</p><p>The Local Water Utilities Administration started its formal investigation on PrimeWater on Friday, May 2, following mounting consumer complaints in various provinces on the firm’s poor delivery of service, Castro said.</p><p>“Marami na po na mga kababayan natin, ang customers ng Primewater na syang umiiyak. Hindi po ito bago. Kaya nakakapagtaka kung bakit hindi nasosolusyunan sa nakaraang administrasyon. Anyway, namayagpag naman ang PrimeWater sa taong 2018 sa panahon sa dating Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte,” Castro said.</p><p>Primewater entered into at least 73 joint ventures with local water districts in various provinces, she said.</p><p>“Malaliman pong pag-iimbestiga ito,” Castro said.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JAmUwiXiYXc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Primewater entered into at least 73 joint ventures with local water districts in various provinces, the Palace said.</p>

Primewater entered into at least 73 joint ventures with local water districts in various provinces, the Palace said.