Villar likely to continue GMA's programs - Drilon

MANILA, Philippines - Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. will likely continue the same programs and policies of the Arroyo administration in the event he wins the presidential elections, former senator Franklin Drilon said yesterday.

Drilon, seeking reelection under the Liberal Party (LP), pointed out the “expected exodus” by allies from the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD to join NP and support Villar.

“As predicted, a large number of policymakers who are loyal to President Arroyo and the First Gentlemen are now delivering their support to the Villar presidency,” Drilon said.

“That is why a majority of the Filipino people are convinced that a Villar presidency will definitely be an extension of the Arroyo administration’s policies and style of governance,” he said.

Drilon said the developments bolstered allegations that Villar is the secret candidate of the Arroyo administration.

Drilon pointed out that some of President Arroyo’s key supporters – including former deputy national security adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson, Bukidnon Gov. Jose Zubiri and Jocelyn “Jocjoc” Bolante, the former Agriculture official involved in the fertilizer scam – have already declared their support for Villar.

Drilon said the perception that the NP presidential bet is allied with Mrs. Arroyo “was a major reason why Villar has been unable to overtake LP presidential candidate Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III in the surveys.”

Villar repeatedly denied the allegations and claimed it was the LP that accommodated more people from the administration.

On the other hand, a lawyer called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate Villar for alleged illegal campaign contributions.

Ernesto Francisco filed a petition last Monday urging Comelec to determine the legality of the use of campaign funds coming from 12 private corporations.

Francisco argued Villar is lying on the source of his election expenses.

He noted Villar is claiming that he has been spending his own money so as “not (to be) beholden to anyone.”

“However, if Senator Villar only had P29,212,803 cash in bank as of Dec. 31, 2008 based on his own sworn statement of assets and liabilities, where is he getting the money that he is spending in his presidential campaign?” Francisco asked.

Francisco asked the Comelec to probe reports that Villar’s funds of P6.7 billion came from at least 12 private corporations, which are stockholders of the senator’s Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc.

Francisco identified the firms as Polar Property Holdings Corp., Calveston Investments Corp., Althorp Holdings Inc., Cameron Global Ltd., Golden Haven Memorial Park, Inc., Cambridge Group Inc., Polar Property Holdings Corp., Fine Properties Inc., Adelfa Properties Inc., C and P Homes Inc. Crown Asia Inc., Communities Philippines Inc. Household Development Corp., and Vista Britanny Corp.

“While Sen. Villar is the major or principal stockholder of the aforementioned local corporations, the funds and assets of the said corporations do not belong to him but, rather, to the said corporations,” he said.

Francisco said the firms are prohibited by law from giving contributions to Villar or to any other candidate in the May 10 elections.   – With Ding Cervantes