Manny Villar cost the Filipino People 6.22 Billion pesos, says Senate C-5 report

And its out.

Senate president Juan Ponce-Enrile just confirmed that twelve senators already signed the committee report on the controversial C-5 road project. Enrile, who wrote the report, says that these signatures will allow the Senate to take up the report on the floor by today.

According to the report, the C-5 road project which was recommended by Villar himself, has caused the Filipino people more than 6.22 billion.

The money came from the realigned P4.28 billion for the extension project, the P1.8 billion spent for the original project but which was wasted due to the realignment, and the P141.1 million in overpriced right-of-way payments for Villar’s real estate.

Those who signed the report includes: Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Panfilo Lacson, Jamby Madrigal, Edgardo Angara, Benigno Aquino III, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, Francis Pangilinan, Richard Gordon and Francis Escudero.

The report says that:

Villar violated the conflict-of-interest rule by not divesting himself of his interests in Adelfa Properties, Golden Haven Memorial Park and Azalea Real Estate Corp. (now Brittany Corp.) when it was apparent to him that these corporations had a contract with the public works department for right-of-way acquisition.

That prompted the Senate to censure Villar.

The question really is---is this part of the political game? Is this part of efforts to villify a presidential candidate?

Okey, even if it was, indeed, part of a shame campaign the final point is still this---WILL VILLAR RESPECT THE INSTITUTION THAT WANTS HIM CENSURED BY BRINGING BACK ALL THOSE MONIES WHICH HE ALLEGEDLY TOOK FROM THE FILIPINO PEOPLE?

WILL VILLAR BE GENTLEMANLY ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY SAY THAT HE WILL RETURN THAT 6.22 BILLION BACK?

If you will look at this issue very closely, this is a matter of respect in the institution which Villar considers himself member of.

Beyond politics, I think it is incumbent upon Villar, as a gentleman, to respect the institution of the Senate.

If he will just accuse this institution of political propagana and what-have-you, this is just a vile attempt to obfuscate the real issue, which is--this institution demands your censure and you must respect its decision.

Again, the dare is---will you, Mr. Villar, give back all those 6.22 billion which you took from us?
 Villar is being made to pay back those billions he took from the public coffers.