By Harvey S. Keh
WITH the current moves by the allies of the administration to push for Charter Change through a Constituent Assembly, the prevailing Ethics case filed by Senator Jamby Madrigal against former Senate President Manny Villar seems to have taken a back seat in the national consciousness of people.
Just recently, a media study came out stating that Villar has already spent more than P300 million for his advertisements and infomercials. I am sure many of us have actually heard Villar’s infomercial with Boy Abunda wherein he tries his best to explain to the general public his side on the controversial P200-million C-5 insertion scam. I had lunch two weeks ago with someone who works at one of the major television networks in our country and he told me that this Villar infomercial is easily costing Villar more than P20 million a week which is spent mostly on buying up the necessary airtime needed.
Which now goes back to the same question that many of us continue to ask, why doesn’t Villar subject himself to an investigation by his own peers at the Senate? His continuous non-appearance and refusal to cooperate in this current ethics investigation all the more leaves many of us to doubt his credibility as a leader.
Let us remember that if there is one thing that many Filipinos are disgusted with as regards to this present administration, it is the lack of transparency and accountability. Villar’s current stance already shows the Filipino people what we can expect of him and his administration if he does become President of our country. How can we expect him to follow the law when he becomes President if he can’t abide by it now that he is only a Senator?
Given the fact that maybe many of his colleagues are just using this investigation to drag him down in the current Presidential derby, I believe that this is not enough reason for him to disregard the rules and policies of the same democratic institution that he used to lead. If he is innocent as he claims to be then he need not be afraid to come forward and take part in this investigation. With the media coverage given to the hearings, people will easily see whether his colleagues are impartial or not and it will also give him an opportunity to clean his name in the eyes of the Filipino people. As the Holy Bible states, the Truth will set you free.
Instead of spending millions on infomercials trying to clear his name, Villar should just spend a few hours to cooperate and explain himself in front of his fellow senators. If he thinks this issue will just go away and die a natural death, I can assure him and his supporters that it won’t given that he has declared himself as a possible Presidentiable in 2010. The millions that he will be able to save can be spent more wisely by providing much needed scholarships to poor but deserving public school students or building homes for the thousands of homeless families in our country. If Villar wants the vote of every Filipino, he should start earning it by coming forward and subjecting himself to the same laws that govern every Filipino regardless of social status or position.
Harvey S. Keh is Director for Youth Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship at the Ateneo School of Government. He is also the Lead Covenor of Kaya Natin! Comments are welcome at harveykeh@gmail.com
12 Feedbacks on "Villar should Face the Music"
aris aguirre
well said
Dandy
The complaint against Villar is politically motivated and blatantly a contrived scheme to pull him down. Take note that Villar stood up for truth against Erap in 2000. Under his leadership in the Senate, the Senate as an institution remained independent from GMA when the latter held the church, military, SC, and yes, even the media in the neck. Former Senate Pres. Jovito Salonga was right-on when he said the other presidentiables should inhibit from this kangaroo court.
Ruth de la Costa
Dear Mr. Keh.
You are definitely correct in the case of Villar. The Senator and his wife, Cynthia, must face the music squarely. They should be more transparent. I am in close contact with many of their previous employees and truly, the spouses are not only secretive, mysterious and dictatorial whose underlings are dictatorial too, they are alos unjust and unfair to their rank and file employees. They have ghost employees too, getting payroll from the Senate and from the House but works in their household in Las Piñas. They are the kind couple they portray to be. They are dangerous even. They think their money can truly buy the people. I hope the former employees of Villar will be able to read your blog and I am sure they too will spill the beans. Tell the truth about the Villars.
J Pareja
I have a question for you. If you are the accused, would you subject yourself to a court when you know it has already made judgment even before the hearings have started? And that the sole purpose and objective is obviously a character assassination because your peers are also eye-ing for the same position in 2010?
Ideally, what you are saying is very valid and Villar should face the proceedings and defend himself. But in reality, I bet that he has more to lose if he did. Because in the real world(esp. Philippine politics), time and again we have seen how the truth is bent, twisted, and blurred for selfish intentions.
jes mtsines
Clearly Mr. Villar understand he has for himself a time-proven ally for his strategy. We Filipinos easily forget. We lacked the fire and balls to not to remember. And one more thing. He’s a big believer we were so dumb we would elect him even as President.
toribio tuvilla
Yes it is imperative for him to face the charges hurled against him as a public servant especially in the timing of how and the date he acquired the properties which were formerly agricultural raw lands and the time that part of this areas officially declared to be expropriated by government to give way for the extension of C-5 road. For it was noticeably suspicious that almost all the properties that the C-5 road extension to be opened passes along the route were owned by the already rich and influential people like Mike Velarde and Henry Sy. Obviously the former original owners of this properties into their dismay in learning soon that a wide road shall be opened, had already disposes it as it was been idled raw land for all their lives. Their seems to be an investigation to be made as to who are the whistleblowers in the government offices for this C-5 road extension project. ATTENTION: Honorable Senator Jamby Madrigal
Rico Baltazar
He can’t face his peers cuz it’s all true.Double insertion,cost of right of way per sq. mtr. etc, etc.Villar is a TradPol we all know that kaya I suggest let us not talk about politicians like Money Villar & other Presidentiables, Except Bayani Fernando,Let us all talk about BF,Let us all brainwash the marginalize sector how BF could change their lives, sorry our Lives because as far as I’m concerned BAYANI FERNANDO’s Great skill in leadership,Political will & honesty will make our country Great again. Thanks
Ringo
You are not getting it. Villar could never get justice from that Senate committee. If there were anomalies in c5 transactions, why couldn’t they file it in court?
This is all a show! If Villar starts starts facing the committee, he would be playing their game. At gusto ng ibang presidentiables yun. Remember Mawanay, Doble and the countless other who showed up in those Senate investigations. Walang nangyari. Remember the alleged FG’s copy doc showed by Madrigal. Dinuktor pala.
If you were in Villar’s position. Would you submit yourself? Ako hindi na uy! Pagpipiyestahan lang ako dun.
Robert
I AGREE WITH MR. HARVEY S. KEY
YOUR ARE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT….
VILLAR SHOULD FACE HIS COLLEGUES IN THE SENATE TO CLEAR HIS NAME………
NOW I HAVE DOUBT ABOUT HIS AMBITION TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT,
UNLESS HE NOT CLEARED HIS NAME.. SURELY A LOT OF VOTES WILL GO INCLUDING MYSELF……..
ROB…….
Jan Mata
Rejoinder to the Opinion of Mr. Harvey Keh
A basic rule of law in a democratic society is that one who accuses any person of any wrongdoing should not act as judge at the same time.
This rule of justice and fair play is evidently missing in the present case of Senator Manny Villar. The Senate, constituting itself as a Committee on the Whole, seeks to pass judgment on allegations hurled against him regarding the C-5 issue.
It must be pointed out Senator Villar’s accusers, namely, Senators Jamby Madrigal and Panfilo Lacson, also sit as jury and judges, together with others members of the majority bloc, sans participation of the minority bloc, in his “Ethics Trial” before the COW.
In short, all of them —jurors, judges and accusers—have already prejudged Senator Villar’s case.
So, who in his right mind would consent to such a blatant travesty of justice?
Moreover, Senators Mar Roxas, Loren Legarda, Richard Gordon and Francis
Chiz Escudero have publicly expressed their desire to vie for the presidential election in 2010.
Decency, at least, requires that they inhibit themselves from the COW’s proceedings, if only to be fair to a fellow presidential aspirant, who happens to lead all of them in the latest nationwide surveys. But they have chosen to sit in judgment of their rival.
It’s very clear then that the most prudent move anybody in Senator Villar’s shoes to take is to go straight to the sovereign people to whom any nationally elected legislator is accountable. He is doing this.
Precisely, it is Senator Villar’s sense of transparency and accountability that leads him to bring his case directly to the people whose wisdom transcends the combined minds of all the Senators.
If Senator Villar has something to hide, he could have easily found comfort in silence. But he did not. He prefers to stand in the glare of public opinion and, yes, face the music.
Admittedly, Senator Villar is active in his public informational campaign. It is by this means that he registers very well in the public mind, and the substance of what he is saying and doing, and in the credibility of his message.
Incidentally, long before Senator Villar started his pro-OFW and “sipag at tiyaga” advocacy programs, he had already initiated a grassroots entrepreneurial development strategy with several projects on the ground.
He is a certified environmentalist, personally setting up tree nurseries and initiating tree planting activities.
He brought home quite a number of OFWs who were victims of abuses in their overseas work stations.
Senator Villar is a builder at heart.
.
As Barack Obama, 44th president of the United Stated, so aptly put it, “…those who build, as opposed to those who destroy, I think leave a lasting legacy, not only for themselves but also for their nations.”
Jan Mata
Office of Senator Manny Villar
myepinoy
This is the usual problem with our so-called politicians. They always claim that they are clean and yet they would do everything to avoid facing the music.
He, cayetano and his allies always said during those impeachment bids against arroyo that ‘the people have the right to know.’ but now that he is under question, this so-called people’s right to know that they claimed before is completely ignored (if not forgotten, on purpose).
Villar and gloria are politicians of the same mode. Who knows, villar when get elected, he might be one of the worsts.
rommel gapan
The author is suggesting Villar to follow the law.Is the investigation by the senate according to the law.I think the senate investigation is just a comedy that will lead to nothing.If they have enough evidence on the anomaly, why they can’t file it in the proper court.It is also Villar rights to refuse to attend the hearing.And they can do nothing about it.The senate is a place to debate and makes laws not to prosecute anybody.It is Villar and everybody’s right to refuse to attend the hearing if they feel it’s only for a comedy.
Please Leave a Comment!