Palace ready to litigate if RORO proponents sue

Malacañang on Thursday said it will put up a good defense in international courts should proponents of “unnecessary and disadvantageous" roll-on, roll-off (RORO) port projects contest the impending cancellation of their contracts. Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III said 66 RORO contracts failed to hurdle a feasibility review by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). Palace officials said cancellation of the projects is an option under serious study. “We will do our best to prepare, lalo po if it is litigated abroad. Lagi naman po tayong handa," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing. The Aquino administration is “ready to do what it takes to make this deal something that will benefit the public," according to Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ramon “Ricky" Carandang. In its current form, it clearly does not and we cannot allow this deal.. to go through. Within those very broad parameters, there are many things that can be done… All the options are on the table," Carandang added. Valte also explained that Malacañang understands the concerns of the foreign proponents of the RORO projects. But Valte said the Aquino administration cannot just let the contracts “persist despite the loss to the government…“Hindi po pwedeng ganoon ang mangyari. It cannot be at the expense of the interest of the Filipino people," Valte said. — ELR/VS, GMA News