Villar on ouster: It's purely politics

MANILA, Philippines – Former Senate president Manuel Villar Jr. and the other presidential wannabes traded barbs yesterday over the reason for his ouster on Monday.

Villar maintained it was “simply politics” that made his colleagues with similar ambitions to vote against him. They were Senators Manuel Roxas II, Loren Legarda, Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon and Francis Escudero. Villar has announced his intention to run for president in the 2010 elections.

He also would not discount the possibility that Malacañang had a hand in his removal from office because he ordered the arrest of former agriculture undersecretary Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante upon his deportation from the United States, as well as retired police comptroller Eliseo de la Paz who was involved in the so-called euro generals scandal.

“We will know the real reason why I was removed in time,” Villar said over radio dzMM.

Legarda and Roxas immediately debunked Villar’s pronouncement.

“It’s a matter of saving the institution,” Legarda said of the decision to dislodge Villar.

Roxas said it was just a question of leadership because many of the senators lost their confidence in Villar.

“We are only four so-called presidentiables in the (old) minority. What’s 2010 for the others? Maybe re-election for some but many are not running for office in 2010,” Roxas said.

“There were 14 votes and you may count how many are presidentiables,” he said.

Villar was accused of inserting P200 million on top of a P200-million funding for the C-5 Road Extension Project from which his real estate properties would allegedly benefit. His company was also said to have been paid for a right of way for the road development project.

“He should stop that spin. It was very clear that the change of leadership was timely because the integrity of the Senate was compromised,” Roxas said.

Roxas also stressed that from the very beginning of the 14th Congress in July 2007, the members of the then minority did not vote for Villar but preferred for-mer Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. to be their president.

Serious blow

Villar’s ouster as Senate chief has dealt his presidential bid a major blow, according to election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

“His removal as Senate president is a big blow to his plans to run for president,” Maca-lintal said in a statement sent to The STAR.

“All his preparations were wasted. He should immediately try to redeem his lost image if he wants to continue his plans to run for president in 2010,” he said.

“Being Senate president, his leadership ability and organization is likewise well projected and could be perceived as a good indicator or training for being the head of state,” Macalintal said.

“He can go around the country, talk to local leaders and promise or give them projects to win their support,” he pointed out.

But for former President Joseph Estrada, Villar’s fate will work better for his presidential bid.