VP bets say Villar endorsed by ‘womanizers’

Vice presidential candidates, at a church-organized forum Tuesday, ganged up on presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party) for seeking the endorsement of popular personalities who are widely perceived as womanizers. “Tila po hindi maganda talaga na gawin mong halimbawa ay taong may question sa bagay na moral," said former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando (Bagumbayan) during the vice presidential forum organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). (It’s just not right to bank on the endorsement of people whose morality is being questioned.) No names were mentioned, but clues given by the panelists obviously pointed to Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, TV show host Willie Revillame, and veteran comedian Dolphy. The three have openly endorsed the candidacy of Villar.

The best endorsement Veteran broadcaster Jay Sonza (Kilusang Bagong Lipunan) said the best endorsement a candidate could get is from the ordinary people on the streets. “Ang pinakamabisa at pinakamahusay na endorser ay yung mga taong naaabutan namin sa kalsada (The best endorsement is from the people we meet on the streets)," he said. Sonza added that Villar, a self-made billionaire, was able to get the endorsement of some of the biggest names in show business and sports because of his wealth. Domindor Chipeco (Ang Kapatiran) said the use of endorsers only shows the lack of platform of a candidate. “Hindi kami nagbabayad ng (We don’t have to pay for) endorsers, we have to rely on what we tell the people," he said. Perfecto Yasay (Bangon Pilipinas) said the issue on the use of endorsers is the result of the loophole in the electoral process. “It is part of a system that we have to change," he said. Pacquiao, Revillame and Dolphy all declined to comment on the issue, according to a report in GMA News’ “24 Oras." Defense from a woman Villar’s running-mate, Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, defended the NP standard-bearer. “Who am I to judge? Hindi ko naman alam ang kanilang pribadong buhay (I am not privy to the personal lives of those endorsers)," she said during the same forum. She added that she respects Villar’s choice of endorsers. “Kung sino po ang kinuha na endorser ng aking presidential candidate ay nirerespeto ko po at kung alleged womanizing po hindi naman po ako nasa posisyon para manghusga sa bagay na yun unless I have private knowledge of the alleged womanizing," Legarda said. (I respect my presidential candidate’s choice of endorsers, and I am not in the position to judge on their alleged womanizing unless of course I have private knowledge about it.) CBCP media director Bishop Pedro Quitorio advised the candidates to get endorsers whom the youth can look up to and emulate. “Why will you select a person who is immoral to lead the nation?" he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV