MALACANANG on Friday dismissed Vice President Sara Duterte’s assertion that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s order to investigate PrimeWater services is politically motivated.
Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro stated, “We do not expect anything nice or any nice word from the Vice President in favor of the President,” during a press briefing.
Vice President Duterte had alleged that the probe, led by the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and commencing today, May 2, targets senatorial candidate Camille Villar following her endorsement.
The Villar family owns PrimeWater.
Duterte stated, “Malamang, dahil lahat naman ng galawan ngayon ng administrasyon ay dahil sa politika… Wala na akong nakita na ginawa ng administrasyon na ito para sa kapayapaan at kaunlaran ng ating bayan, kundi lahat ay pag-atake lamang sa politika at sa mga taong hindi nila kayang takutin at hindi nila kayang bilhin,” (This is likely, since all the actions done by the current administration have to do with politics… I have not seen this administration do anything for peace and the development of our country, but only to politically attack the people they know they couldn’t scare off and buy.)
Castro countered that the Vice President frequently uses this explanation. Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas also issued a statement affirming Representative Camille Villar’s continued inclusion in the administration’s Eleksyon 2025 slate, while simultaneously expressing support for the PrimeWater investigation.
