MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday mended ties with billionaire Lucio Tan, who had been the subject of his tirades.

“Lucio Tan, tapos na tayo ha. Bayad ka na at 'yung pinakita mo on several occasions,” Duterte said in a speech during his welcome for repatriated overseas Filipino workers from Kuwait at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“I really appreciated you and your family. Simula ngayon wala ka nang marinig sa akin, tapos na eh.”

Duterte had once lashed out at Tan over the Philippine Airlines’ P6 billion unpaid navigational fees and other charges. The country’s flag carrier has since settled its debt.

• PAL settles P6 billion dues to gov't

The President had alleged Tan managed to avoid paying PAL’s multibillion debt to government by threatening to destablize the government using his money.

In his speech Tuesday, Duterte thanked Tan for sending planes to Kuwait to fly home Filipino workers there who want to be repatriated.

• PAL offers to fly home OFWs from Kuwait

He also thanked Tan’s contributions to the rehabilitation of war-torn Marawi.

“Because of this incident, Mr. Lucio Tan, I will shut up forever. Wala ka nang marinig sa akin na salita. Okay na sa akin, tapos na,” Duterte said.

“Nabayaran mo na ang taxes mo, ipinakita mo. I’m ready to protect every businessman, kagaya niyo.”