Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Palace studying Prime Water woes: ‘Hindi na pwedeng pikit-mata’

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Malacañang is studying the mounting complaints against Prime Water, with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stressing that the government can no longer ignore the plight of consumers grappling with poor water service.</p><p>In an interview on DZMM’s Isyu Spotted on Wednesday, July 2, Undersecretary Claire Castro said that two large boxes containing reports and complaints against Prime Water have already been submitted to her office.</p><p>“Dalawang box. Gano’n kalaki iyong bawat isa. May isang folder na may summary doon. At doon sa summary, medyo may nabasa na ako. Medyo masalimuot talaga. At kailangan talaga itong tutukan naming ng Pangulo,” Castro said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/2/-minsan-amoy-gas-amoy-burak-primewater-customers-patuloy-ang-reklamo-0946">&#x27;Minsan amoy gas, amoy burak&#x27;: Customers patuloy ang reklamo sa PrimeWater</a></div><p>She underscored that the issue is not simple and will require a thorough legal review, citing possible complexities over the government’s authority to unilaterally cancel water service contracts with local water districts.</p><p>“Hindi kasi siya pwedeng gano’n lang. Isang utos lang. Maaaring magkaroon ng issue tungkol sa mga legalities. May mga issue ganyan at mayroon ding issue allegedly iyong jurisdiction ng LWUA (Local Water Utilities Administration). Inaaral naming talaga ito,” she said.</p><p>A meeting is set on Friday with LWUA and other agencies, where Castro said she expects to obtain more clarity.</p><p>Asked if politics was influencing the investigation, given Prime Water’s links to the Villar family, Castro firmly rejected the notion.</p><p>“Hindi pwede din sabihin na pamumulitika ito. Kasi marami ng dumadaing. Kung dati may nagpipikit mata at namamayagpag sila, hindi pwede ngayon. Kawawa ang mga consumers. Kailangan aksiyonan ito,” she stated.</p><p>Castro did not rule out changes in water service providers should Prime Water fail to address its shortcomings, but emphasized decisions will hinge on whether the company can remedy its lapses.</p><p>“Kaya ba na mapunan iyong shortcomings? Kasi kung kaya, dapat noon pa e’. Pero nagsiserbisyo naman sila sa bayan, according to them, so dapat noon pa,” she argued.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/7/1/malaca-ang-to-review-probe-vs-primewater-with-two-balikbayan-boxes-of-documents-1643">Malacañang to review probe vs PrimeWater with &#x27;two balikbayan boxes&#x27; of reports, evidence</a></div><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong>SARA DUTERTE’S FOREGN TRIPS</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Castro addressed in the same interview calls for Vice President Sara Duterte to fully disclose the purpose and results of her recent overseas trips.</p><p>While Duterte initially said she was on personal leave, she later stated she was working, triggering questions on what official business she undertook.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/28/vp-duterte-no-obligation-to-give-public-details-of-my-personal-trips-1240">VP Duterte: No obligation to give public details of my personal trips</a></div><p>“If you’re on a personal trip at naka on-leave ka officially, so hindi mo kailangan mag-trabaho. But she claimed she was working. So you have to report to the people ano iyong ginawa mo. You don’t have to say na, ‘E, pera ko naman ‘to eh,’” Castro argued.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WILL PH RETURN TO THE ICC?</strong></div><p>Undersecretary Castro also addressed a survey findings showing most Filipinos want the country to return under the jurisdiction of the ICC, which could pave the way for investigations linked to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, hindi talaga namin napag-uusapan. Pero ‘di ba sabi niya (Pangulong Marcos Jr.) way back 2023, pwede ‘to, pinag-aaralan ‘to. Kung papasok man, pag-aaralan ‘to,” Castro said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/1/will-ph-heed-call-to-rejoin-icc-palace-says-marcos-listens-to-public-sentiment-1457">Will PH heed call to rejoin ICC? Palace says Marcos &#x27;listens&#x27; to public sentiment</a></div><p>“Ang nakikita ko, naniniwala sila na iyong pagdala kay dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC ay naaayon. Kasi otherwise, sasabihin nila, huwag sumali. Kung iyon ang magiging resulta ng survey,” she added.</p>

<p>Malacañang is studying the mounting complaints against Prime Water, with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), stressing that the government can no longer ignore the plight of consumers grappling with poor water service.</p>

Malacañang is studying the mounting complaints against Prime Water, with the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), stressing that the government can no longer ignore the plight of consumers grappling with poor water service.