Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday accused President Rodrigo Duterte threatening to expropriate the properties of Smart and Globe in the guise of improving the telecommunications industry just so third telco player, Dito Telecommunity Corp., could freely use their facilities.
Trillanes made the remark in a tweet posted after Duterte delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"Marami pang pasakalye, Duterte just wants his third telco to get a free ride on the cell towers built by Smart and Globe. That’s why he is now shaking down MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) and Ayala," the former senator said in his tweet.
Pangilinan serves as president, CEO and chairman of the board of Smart Communications Inc., while Globe Telecom Inc. is an Ayala-led corporation.
"Gusto ng Davao group na laway lang ang kapital nila, may telco na sila," Trillanes added.
Duterte, in his SONA, threatened that he would find a way to work with Congress to have the two telcos of the industry should they fail to improve their service.
"Kindly improve the services before December. I want to call Jesus Christ to Bethlehem. Better have that line increased," he said.
"The next two years will be spent improving the telecommunications of the country without you. I will talk to Congress and find a way how to do it," the President said.
Dito earlier vowed to provide a minimum speed of 27 megabits per second and achieve a nationwide coverage of 37.03% in its first year of operations which lapsed on July 8.
The telco, backed by Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, Duterte's top campaign donor in 2016, has been given a six-month extension to satisfy its commitments to the government.
Aside from Smart and Globe, the Philippines is now awaiting the entry of the third telecom player Dito Telecommunity Corp., backed by businessman Dennis Uy, one of Duterte's backers during his presidential bid in 2016.
Globe Telecom Inc. on Monday acknowledged Duterte's threats to improve its services, pointing out that billions of dollars worth of investments are now paying off.
Smart Communications Inc. has yet to issue a statement.
By ERWIN COLCOL, GMA News
Source: Peso Economics
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