Senator Manny Villar should face the People like a man
Where were Senators Panfilo Lacson and Loren Legarda in yesterday’s Senate session? They were supposed to support Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile. Legarda and Lacson were at the forefront of the Senate attempt to probe Villar’s unethical practices. Yet, they were not around when the Senate was supposed to take up that report.
Mr. Lacson, what gives? And Ms. Legarda–where is your loyalty? Is it to Villar or to the Nation?
And how about Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who signed the report written by no less than Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile? Was Pangilinan asked by his friend Villar not to attend yesterday’s session?
Where is your loyalty, Mr. Pangilinan? To Villar or to the Nation who suffered?
Senator Manny Villar should not mock the very institution which professes to be the last bastion of democracy in this country. Villar should not hide behind the “alibi” of political propaganda and face the accusations like a man. Why is Villar so afraid of facing his colleagues before the Filipino People?
Like what a judge said, guilty people, they are those who usually make the wrong excuses.
Villar is trying to weaken the very institution which took care of him for so many years and which, allowed him to get 6.22 billion pesos from the public coffers, the very same monies he is now using to get to the top spot.
Villar should be man enough to admit that he erred or at the very least, acted in an unethical manner.
If you look at it, this C-5 report serves as the final nail to seal Villar’s campaign for the presidency. Senator Jamby Madrigal wants Villar charged before the Ombusman and Madrigal should be supported by the People.
This C-5 probe will serve as the Damocles sword hanging above Villar’s head even if he wins the May 10, 2010 elections. This will forever haunt him and will mar his administration, if he wins.
And this is a very bad thing for us, the Filipino People. We do not deserve someone with a graft case again sitting as president.
More than this, this C-5 report is more than Villar’s or of political propaganda. It is about justice. It is about respect of an individual in the institution of the Senate. And it is about fair play.
How would Villar tell this to his grandson? That it is okey for you to get 6.33 billion by using your position as a Senator? That it is alright for a real estate magnate to get concessions from government and recommend a project which will benefit him?
Lastly, Villar is always going to the media to explain. And why is it? Because he cannot be held legally responsible for his remarks in the public sphere.
Villar should cut this and face this probe like a man.
And one more thing—Villar and his group should not mock the Senate by maneuvering to get Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile out as president. If it is indeed true that Villar’s group is planning to oust Enrile through a coup, this will definitely smear the good image of this institution. A coup at this time would impact greatly on the chances of Villar to get elected to the presidency.
In all indications, Villar’s chances have been diminished by his own lack of civility and his lack of respect for democracy.
January 20th, 2010 @ Ricky Rivera
0