Duterte to Lucio Tan: Settle arrears in 10 days

President Rodrigo Duterte wants business tycoon Lucio Tan to pay his company's unpaid airport charges "in 10 days."

Duterte made the remark late Tuesday night at the 56th Philippine Constitution Association event at the Manila Hotel, after recounting that Tan offered to contribute to his campaign funds.

"At sabihin ko na. Lucio Tan. Donor of funds. Sabi ko, ‘No?’ Sabi ko: 'Thank you, but——' And other guys there. Sabi ko, 'You are using government buildings, airport, you have a back… back —— utang diyan sa runway ‘di mo binabayaran," he said.

"Sabi ko, 'You solve the problem yourself. I will give you 10 days. Bayaran mo. ‘Pag hindi mo bayaran, eh ‘di sirahan ko. Wala nang airport. So what?'" he added.

Duterte said that the law should be enforced.

"Kayo Pilipino have to travel overland from Luzon to Davao. 'Basta bayaran mo, huwag mo akong bigyan ng s— nang ganoo,'" he said.

"I do not mind. If we sink, we sink. But I said, 'We have to enforce the law.' So guys, you guys, if you are put into a great discomfort, sorry. Wala akong magawa. The law is the law. It is the law. And that is what makes me unpopular itong mga... Eh alam mo na. Nandito sila," he added.

Duterte did not provide details about Tan's supposed unpaid dues. But the Department of Transportation on Wednesday told Tan's Philippine Airlines Inc. to settle unpaid navigational and other charges amounting to P322,112,385 with the Manila International Airport Authority.

The DOTr also said that PAL also needs to pay the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines P6,965,146,149.63 as of July 30 2017.

The total is comprised of current payables (for January–July 2017) of P370,583,588.96 and arrears (for December 2015 and prior) of P6,594,562,560.67.

PAL is already seeking a compromise deal with the government to settle its unpaid obligations, which it estimates at P6.63 billion.

"We look forward to meeting the negotiating panel and we are ready to submit a Compromise Agreement to settle this issue once and for all," PAL said in a statement late Wednesday.

According to DOTr, Secretary Arthur Tugade already sent letters to PAL since August 2016.

“As a result, discussions were undertaken with PAL to reconcile invoices and documents, which led to PAL's payment to CAAP of PHP 370 million,” the statement read.

PAL also requested to discuss the possibility of paying its arrears in seven years. But the request was denied, DOTr said. — BM, GMA News