Duterte apologizes to Ayalas, Pangilinan amid COVID-19 crisis

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night apologized to the Ayalas and Manuel V. Pangilinan, businessmen whom he criticized before the COVID-19 crisis for what he called onerous deals in the water distribution sector.

In a nationally televised address, Duterte thanked big business for helping the government provide Filipinos with the necessary assistance amid the  community quarantines imposed across the country to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.

"I’d like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us provide the necessities of the moment. I can promise you that I’ll be nice and if you want to see me, we can talk," Duterte said.

"Naubos na po 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," he added.

"I am ready to talk and I’d be reasonable. 'Yung mga masakit kong salita to the Ayalas and to Pangilinan, I apologize for the hurting words," Duterte said.

"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 God," he added in jest.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Duterte repeatedly criticized the Ayalas and Pangilinan for what he called onerous water concession deals with the government.

Both Pangilinan's Maynilad and the Ayalas' Manila Water had secured multi-billion-peso awards from a Singapore-based court for losses the companies incurred due to water rate adjustments that were not implemented.

Duterte had threatened to go after the Ayalas and Pangilinan for alleged economic sabotage. -NB, GMA News