Senate resumes hearing on Villar today

MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile bared yesterday that the Senate Committee of the Whole (SCOW) would resume its hearing today on the alleged anomaly over the C5 Road extension that involved Sen. Manny Villar Jr.

“We will defer to the presentation of evidence by Sen. Jamby (Madrigal). She is the one preparing the evidence. The committee will not prepare the evidence. The evidence has to be prepared and presented by the complainant,” Enrile said.

The inquiry will resume at 9 a.m. with Madrigal continuing her testimony as complainant.

“I don’t know kung sino ang testigo ni Jamby,” he said.

Enrile said the Senate cannot limit the presentation of evidence but it will not allow repetitious or argumentative presentation.

“We will give a chance. After Jamby, we’ll give the respondent (Villar) a chance to present evidence if he wants, a reasonable time,” he said.

Villar and the members of the Senate minority have challenged the proceedings of the SCOW before the Supreme Court. They have also walked out of the proceedings after questioning the rules of the committee and the impartiality of the “accusers.”

Madrigal and Sen. Panfilo Lacson have accused Villar of using his influence as senator for the alleged double insertion of P200-million for the completion of the C5-Road extension project.

Villar downplayed anew the ethics complaint and said that the accusations are politically motivated.  

He remained firm in his stance that the ethics complaint is politically motivated aimed at pulling down his high approval ratings among the people.