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.

Senator Villar's Conflict of Interest

Ariel Radovan,a Facebook friend made a comment about your note "Senator Manny Villar got my vote today". He wrote thus:

"..you are not asking a question because you have already concluded on the facts... since you are referring to the C5 project kindly be reminded that the Senate Committee on Finance approved and past the budget for that project. there was no finding by the same comm of any irregularity neither was there any anomaly found by the Comm until the national budget was approved. With reference to your question about the properties, Villar did not hide the fact that he was engaged in the real estate business, it was his bread and butter even before he ventured into politics. The properties you mentioned was bought even before the project was considered.
That is why I told you if there really was an anomaly behind the project and that he allegedly benefited from it... then bring the issue before the Ombudsman and let the issues be settled. What I am not in favor is that many of us Filipinos always resort to trial by publicity. That should not be the case, otherwise what are courts for..."

Ariel, let me direct you to a provision of the Constitution which prohibits Senators like Villar on things like these:

Sec. 12, Article VI. No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives
shall, upon assumption of office, make a full disclosure of their financial and
business interests. They shall notify the House concerned of a potential
conflict of interest that may arise from the filing of a proposed legislation of
which they are authors.

Ariel, Senator Villar did not disclose this neither did he actually refrained himself from the C-5 road project. That, to me, is an expressed violation of this provision, and worst, even sponsored the project. It is not just violation, but an IMMORAL act.

Yet, like I said, his singular act of giving away 6 house and lots is, by itself, a worthy one.

Manny Villar should resign or retire

Which is more important to a Senator? Be the servant of the Constitution or try and save his hide and get a lid to cover his stinking deed? These things probably are in the mind of Senator Manny Villar.

Villar just got the nod of the Supreme Court to ask the Senate to defer the trial of his ethics case. His contention is mostly based on technicals and what Villar managed to do is try to stay the hand of the Senate. The Supreme Court asked the Senate to "answer" the Petition for Injunction of Villar. The SC did not issue a TRO and instead, asked the Senate to answer the petitioner. As a co-equal branch of government, the Senate may or may not follow what the SC said but out of "courtesy", they must do so.

Villar just said some days ago that the ethics trial will not muster enough votes to either expel him or reprimand him. For Villar, it's all a numbers' game. For most Senators, especially those who consider the integrity of the Senate as an institution, it's about honor and obeisance to the Constitution.

The evidence against Villar is overwhelming. Villar violated the Constitution by not divesting his interests in his companies and he also admitted gaining a fiduciary interests in some government projects---two things expressly prohibited by the framers of the Constitution due to the principle of conflict of interests.

Villar never denied that he has substantial interests in Adelfa Properties nor in Vistaland. IN truth, he's even proud of this. What he does not know is he's turning into an embarassment especially among his peers because it should have been incumbent upon him to know that his continued stake at these companies makes his position as a legislator on shaky grounds.

Right now, Villar does not have the moral high ground to even question any erring government official nor any person accused of graft or collusive practices because, he, himself, is being accused of an ethical matter. What, then, is the use of Villar as a senator? He cannot now function effectively as a Senator of the land because he, himself, is accused of a crime and moreso, his reputation has now been sullied beyond repair.

Manny Villar should vow to the will of the People. He should resign before the Senate renders judgment against him, if there is still some shame left in him.