Gordon hits Villar for ‘fooling the poor’

Bagumbayan standard-bearer Richard Gordon on Friday chided fellow presidential candidate Manuel Villar Jr. for “fooling the poor" with his campaign advertisements, saying the Nacionalista Party (NP) bet has done nothing to alleviate poverty while in office. Gordon said Villar seems to be “exploiting" the poor with his TV ads, where the NP presidential bet claims he will end poverty in the country. “There’s too much exploitation of the poor. Parang niloloko ang mga mahihirap (It appears that he is fooling the poor)," he said of Villar’s advertisements after speaking at the Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) National Convention in Makati City on Friday. Gordon likewise questioned Villar’s track record, asking what his fellow senator has done to help the poor while in office. “When you look at his track record, naging Speaker, naging Senate President, naging congressman, naging senador. Bakit ngayon lang biglang haharap sa mga mahihirap? Ano’ng ginawa niya noong nandun sya?" he said. “All the bills he signed were to enhance housing," he added. Villar, a housing industry businessman and the country’s richest senator, served three terms in the Lower House from 1992 to 2001, and was Speaker from 1998 to 2000. After that, he served as senator from 2001 up to the present, and was Senate President from 2006 to 2008. He has been in the Congress for almost 18 years. Infomercials ‘beneficial’ to voters Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, meanwhile, came to the defense of her husband, saying his advertisements actually help voters make their choice in the May polls. “I think the people are fortunate because through these infomercials, they are learning things about Manny Villar, which are very important in choosing the next president of the country," Rep. Villar said in the same CTB forum. “Mas maganda nga ‘yung ganito (This is in fact a good thing). You tell the people what you are, where you came from, what you have done and what you propose to do," she said. Rep. Villar likewise said that the advertisements are her husband’s way of reaching out to Filipinos, especially the poor ones. “You know, Manny Villar is not a broadcaster. He is not a movie star, no connection to anybody. How can he come across the people (if not through these ads)?" she said.—JV, GMANews.TV