‘Secret GMA’ bet: Clear LP black prop vs Villar
As solid Visayas support widens for Ilonggo presidentiable
Solid support for the Presidential bid of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar is gaining momentum in the Visayas. This, as the finish line for the May 2010 election nears with only 35 days left.
Even massive black propaganda believed to have been drummed up by the Liberal Party (LP) failed to shake the NP. To note, the Villar candidacy has been subjected to attacks amidst LP insistence that the Ilonggo Senator is a Malacañang “secret bet.”
The NP hierarchy though has since shrugged off the “wild talks” with the NP group focused on spreading the message of “Sipag at tiyaga, trabaho at negosyo” for the people.
“Hindi ako nanghihingi [sa Palasyo] at wala akong balak tumanggap,” Senator Villar in a recent statement said as he maintained that he is not an administration accomplice.
To note, it was Senator Villar who as then chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order, headed the investigation into the numbers racket “jueteng” that allegedly involved Arroyo and some of her family as well as her political allies.
He pointed out that NP stalwarts Gilbert Remulla and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano led the congressional inquiries into the “Hello Garci” and ZTE-NBN scandals.
During his stint as Senate President, Villar said he protected the chamber from illegal moves by Malacañang to interfere in the affairs of the chamber at the height of its corruption investigation.
“I’m proud of this. When I was the Senate President, the Senate enjoyed independence,” he said.
Since his ouster from the Senate presidency, Villar said he has never talked to either President Arroyo or First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo.
And with various surveys establishing the solid Villar Visayas vote, helping the NP bandwagon are recent switches of major political figures who now back Villar’s candidacy.
Staunch Villar supporter Emily Relucio Lopez expressed gratitude on the welcomed development saying the time has come for the Villar bandwagon to continually take off.
“We will never have this privilege and honor to have an Ilonggo President who is most capable to lead us towards real progress and development. Senator Villar is the best man for the job and I, along with my husband, former Congressman Albertito Lopez can personally vouch on that,” Lopez said. “Ilonggo gid si (He is really an Ilonggo,) Senator Manny Villar and he has the best Ilonggo traits in him that molded him to what he is today – mapisan, maalam, may dignidad, maayo kag masaligan nga lider, (diligent, intelligent, dignified, good and a very trustworthy leader) very committed and with a big heart for the poor. Senator Villar is the only presidentiable who can truly say he has done so much, he has his own track record of accomplishments both as Congressman and Senator. Senator Villar is also the only one who made a name for himself because of hardwork and perseverance.”
Similar scenarios elsewhere in the country as in the case in Southern Philippines where three governors including the provincial coalition chairman of the ruling party switched support to Villar.
Northern Philippines followed suit with known political kingpin Luis “Chavit” Singson also reported to now back Villar’s presidential bid.
The NP in a statement explained these defections, saying “local officials are now scrambling to try to side with the perceived winner of these elections.”
