The wrath of the Masses against the C-5 road scam

Senator Manny Villar's monumental drop in the surveys shows the wrath of the ABC-D classes. Villar lost a considerable number of Filipinos belonging to the socio-economic ABC and D classes due to the C-5 road controversy. People are now realising that Villar is corrupt. More than the 40 plus percent from the ABC classes who went to Noynoy, and a considerable drop in the D classes show the Masses' contempt of Villar regarding the C-5 road scam. Villar's inability to explain what really happened and his evident contempt of the Senate boomeranged against him.

Likewise, his drop also reflected the successful re-claiming of areas considered as traditional Erap bailiwicks by an invigorated Estrada campaign machinery.

The Nacionalista Party released a statement saying that they are not entirely concerned and that Villar can still regain it. I sincerely doubt it. I have friends in the Nacionalista party and I must laud their sectoral efforts. However, areas which were traditionally Erap are now being tapped and invigorated. It seems that Erap is on the roll. 

Fact is, the soonest Erap regain these areas, the more Villar will lose this game. And the more that Noynoy Aquino's team hammer their anti-corruption slant in their infomercials, the more that Villar will lose ground.

Villar has released his "Laging mahirap" commercials again, but without the pizzaz. The reception is quite lukewarm. And this is the problem with TV ads. If you already saturated the airwaves, people will get tired and instead of positive reactions, you'll get negative feedback.

Villar needs a change of tack fast and must realise that his so-called poverty story is not effective anymore. He needs a new gimmick. Whatever it is, it should probably address the C-5 road scam.

The question really is---will he be able to convince us that he did not dip his hands in the gravy pot with C-5 when overwhelming evidence show otherwise?

Villar's Defense Thru Radio Ads

Last Monday, the Senate floor saw former Senate president Manny Villar defend himself against accusations levelled against him by colleagues, Senators Jamby Madrigal and Ping Lacson. Manny's defense was aired live by DZMM (ABS-CBN 2) and DZBB (GMA Channel 7). Despite his booming voice and his attempt to present a strong alibi (" I was the one who suffered here for the sake of my constituency" line of defense), the beleguered senator failed to convince me and even some of my colleagues.

Villar's said he did'nt benefit from allowing the C-5 circumferential road to cross his vast real estate properties in Daang Hari, when, it was very clear that his real estate firm raked in millions from the right-of-way deal.

Villar also said that it was not him that prodded government to construct the C-5 road---it was originally an American idea which DPWH pursued later on to "decongest" traffic in Las Pinas, Paranaque and Cavite. True, it was the idea of the Americans way back in the 1920's yet it was only vigorously pursued when Villar became senator.

Villar claims that more than 6 million people benefit from the construction of the Daang Hari road. No dispute about that. That road really benefitted not just residents of Cavite or Las Pinas; moreso, it benefitted the house owners who bought lots and H/L from Camella and VistaLand. Truthfully, Villar actually benefitted from the construction of the road because his real estate agents were able to sell his products faster than others.

What Villar failed to establish is the veracity of his allegations against Ping and Jamby. He accused them of malicious intentions, pointing to Lacson and "other presidential aspirants" as behind the move to "smear" his good name. But, is politics the true reason why Villar is now suddenly being questioned?

Even before 2007, Villar's name has been unnecessarily dragged into this controversy. While the Daang Hari road is being constructed, malicious tongues already wagged that the "power" behind it was really the Senate President. Let's just give Villar the benefit of the doubt that he did lost money by not getting any single cent from those lucrative right-of-way deals. But, the very fact that he now earns billions through real estate sales, can you still say that he did'nt benefit from the project?

Months ago, Villar also admitted that he did, indeed, requested the DPWH to complete the construction of bridges and overpasses along Daang Hari road. Even that road linking Cavite to Paranaque and on to C-5 road was Villar's idea.

The question that crossed my mind is, why did Villar deny this when everybody knew already that he, together with his Congressman wife, were behind those projects? And is'nt strange that these projects cross his vast real estate properties in that part of the South?

Again, if Villar is in this thing "with clean hands", why did he purchased radio spots in selected radio stations at the very day that the Senate ethics committee questioned him? Yesterday, it was apparent that Vista Land's marketing and advertising department was behind those radio commercials which were aired shortly after his "defense" at the Senate.

When it was Senator Jamby's time to speak, DZMM and DZBB aired Villar's radio ads. The public was not able to hear Jamby's speech because of those ads. And we all know that advertisers can request these two networks to "just keep silent" or "just air Villar's defense" in exchange for advertising spots. That's an age-old trick by PR practitioners especially those who are unsure whether they influence the station or not.

Now, if Villar is really innocent of the crime charged by his colleagues at the Senate, why go to lengths like this (placement of radio ads)? Is Villar afraid that the public will know the truth?

Mr. Villar, if you're really clean, then, allow the Public to hear both sides, not just yours. Don't bind the hands of radio and TV stations by influencing their editorial discretions thru advertisement.

DZMM and DZBB should also explain to us why they ended the live coverage of the "Senate word war" yesterday and instead, aired Villar's radio ads. Were they instructed by their respective marketing departments not to anymore air the accuser's side and just air Villar's? The Ethics Committee and even the entire Senate should probe deeper into this.

Villar's S.T. means "Singit at Taga"? --Korina

The ongoing spat between Senate President Manny Villar and Senator Ping Lacson seems to be getting out of hand. Lacson dared Villar to get out of his post as Senate president to avoid tainting a possible Senate probe into Villar's alleged complicity with the double insertion scam. Senator Jamby Madrigal meanwhile asked Villar to explain his company's alleged involvement in the C-5 extension to Las Pinas and the scandal involving Villar's alleged role in the construction of the Daang Hari road from Las Pinas to Cavite. Villar's spokesperson Gilbert Remulla tried to parry attacks from all sectors against the beleaguered Senate prexy, saying that Villar's camp is not to be blamed for the decisions of Brittany, a real estate company under the Vista Land Group of Companies, the company owned by Manny Villar. Brittany, says Remulla, is preparing for their own version of this anomaly. Brittany will deny the allegations of Atty. Francisco that they sold their right-of-way to the government for P 97 million pesos.

Villar tried to air his side today with a possible presscon, but things got out of hand this morning when ABS-CBN DZMM anchor Korina Sanchez insinuated that maybe Villar got his billions not from "Sipag and Tiyaga" (ST which means literally in English, hardwork and patience) but probably from "Singit and Taga" (insertions and commissions). Those play of words seemed to have resonated all throughout the country that some of us here in the Internet are talking about it.

This early, I think, Villar should re-think his decision to gun for the highest post of the land. This is a hand-full for his media handlers. I don't think they can change public opinion with just tactical media campaigns. This calls for a more strategic media campaign for them to change public perception and re-imagine Villar's image before the public.

This early, I say, Villar should get out of the presidential derby. Heard from the grapevine that this is just a start of a slew of possible exposes against Villar. Questions---who are orchestrating these attacks?

Answer: Malacanang. Remember that Mike Defensor's sister, Maite, heads the Tollways corporation which transacted with Villar re: the alleged sale of right-of-ways. There are reports that Atty. Francisco got his documents from this company.