War against poverty, integrity among Villar’s concerns
Senator Manuel Villar yesterday presented two important issues among his party members and leaders as he advanced his presidential bid in next year’s election. These are the battle against poverty and integrity while serving the country.
Villar, in yesterday’s mass oath taking with members of the Nacionalista Party (NP), said political independence is a must in the fight against poverty. He said true freedom is only achieved when the battle against poverty is won.
Villar, NP’s standard bearer, said poverty is the issue which the next president of the country must resolve.
“There is no room for on-the-job training. We have to act now. The ability to solve the issue on poverty depends on the competence of the leader. There is much to be done not only in Iloilo, Panay or Guimaras but in the entire nation,” said Villar.
Villar narrated his life to show a better picture on how he rose from poverty. The senator has grown big through his real property business.
In Iloilo City alone, he owns a posh subdivision. Almost everywhere in the Philippines, Villar has poured investment in real property businesses.
In the recent survey commissioned by Mayor Jerry Treñas, Villar got 31 percent while Senator Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party got 34 percent of the voters’ preference for president. The margin of error is only 5 percent. Treñas did not name the survey firm.
The NP’s presidential stalwart added that a leader must have the integrity to lead the country. Villar said “integrity” is one quality that he inherited from his mother.
He said his mother taught him to work hard and not to steal and wait until he has the opportunity to have what he wants. Villar said his mother did not experience a good life and always worked hard for their family.
Villar recently figured in the C-5 controversy. The resolution dismissing the ethics complaint against Villar in the Senate has created a howl among the members of the majority.
Among those who joined in yesterday’s oath taking with the NP were Mayor Treñas. Treñas defected from Lakas-Kampi-CMD to NP after he decided to run against incumbent Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. in the city’s lone district.
Treñas was appointed by Villar as the NP chair in the city. The mayor was joined by Councilor Jose Espinosa III as his vice mayoral bet and candidates for councilors Iloilo Boarding House Commission head Edward Yee, Iloilo City Urban Poor Affair Office (ICUPAO) head Roni Firmeza, ABC City Proper president Bobby Divinagracia and businessman Johnny Young. Former Vice Mayor Guillermo de la Llana also took his oath.
Aside from the city’s hopefuls for the May 2010 elections, several mayors, incumbent vice mayors and councilors from the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras also took their oath as NP members.
A press release from Villar’s camp listed as among the prominent leaders who swore into the Villar-led party Bingawan Mayor Matt Palabrica and Maasin Mayor Mariano Malones Jr.; Lauaan Mayor Aser Baladjay, Bugasong Mayor Bernard Pesayco, and Caluya Mayor Reynante Lim of Antique; Sapian Mayor Arturo Orosco of Capiz; and Board Members Patricio Gange and Roy Habaña of Guimaras.
