Villar will do anything to win presidency — Enrile

ALCOY, Cebu — To win the highest elective post in the land, Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. will do anything, including bribing a contender to back out of the presidential race. This was the claim Wednesday of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, a reelectionist running under the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino Banner of former President Joseph Estrada. "I think the least I can say about him is that he is trying very hard to become the president and he would do almost anything to get there… You know it’s dangerous for people to spend too much money to attain an elective position," Enrile told reporters in an interview with reporters in Samboan town. Enrile made the comment in reaction to Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard Gordon’s revelation that an emissary allegedly from Villar's camp offered to reimburse his campaign expenses and give him a Cabinet post in exchange for his exit from the presidential race. "Babayaran ko lahat ginastos mo at yung ikakampanya mo. Kapag umatras ka bibigyan kita nang ano mang pwesto sa gabinete," Gordon quoted the emissary as saying. [See: Gordon says Villar tried to buy him out of race] Gordon likewise claimed that the emissary, who he declined to identify, tried to convince him to withdraw his support for Enrile so that Villar could be reinstalled as Senate president last January before Congress adjourned session. At the time, talks were rife that the Senate minority bloc was planning to oust Enrile in the thick of the C-5 road extension controversy hounding Villar. Enrile’s committee of the whole issued a report accusing Villar of committing anomalies by using his influence and position to have the C-5 road extension pass through his properties in Las Pinas and Paranaque cities. Villar's camp has repeatedly denied the allegations. What offer? As of posting time, GMANews.TV was still trying to get Villar's comment on Enrile's statement but he has already denied Gordon's accusations. "Ako ay nagbibigay babala sa mga kasamahan kong kandidato, wala po akong ginagawang ganyan, wala akong ino-offer-an na maski kanino. Mag-iingat po kayo sa mga taong nanloloko at baka po kayo ay mabiktima," Villar said shortly after Gordon made the accusation. In Wednesday’s interview, Enrile also said that in the thick of rumors of plans to oust him as Senate president, he already knew of Villar’s supposed schemes to buy out fellow candidates. "I know that, more or less, that was indicated to me by Senator Gordon, but I kept quiet about it because I did not want to say that to the public. Well now, it has been said by Senator Gordon," Enrile said. Warning to candidates The presidential bet of Enrile’s party, ousted President Joseph Estrada, earlier claimed he received offers from a contender to back out of the presidential race in exchange for the withdrawal of his bid. Unlike Gordon, Estrada declined to name who the candidate was. [See: Erap claims to have gotten offers in exchange for his race exit] Enrile then warned voters to be wary of candidates who spend too much money in their campaigns. "I think it’s better that the people would know this so they can judge each one of the candidates for the presidency… I cannot believe a person, who will spend a fortune which cannot be attained by many Filipinos, would do it only for public service. There must be something, more interesting motivation behind it," Enrile said. To recall, Villar had been criticized by his Senate colleagues and fellow presidential contenders like Gordon and Sen. Jamby Madrigal of "trying to buy the presidency" because of spending on his political ads. - RSJ, GMANews.TV