Noynoy to Villar: Corruption is a greater sin than smoking

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay - Corruption is a far greater sin to the country than smoking. This was practically what presidential candidate Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III had to say to his rival, Senator Manuel Villar Jr., after the latter implied that Aquino is not fit to be president because of, among others, his smoking habit. "In the scale of sins, the issues about C-5, C-5.5, Norzagaray are less than my smoking? Should he be attending to my smoking instead of answering whether or not the resources of the State were utilized properly in building two roads to serve one end in C5 or to have one road benefiting a subdivision in Iloilo, that turned first-class irrigated agricultural lands into a subdivision?" Aquino told reporters at a press conference here. "I think at the very least we should question his priorities," added Aquino. Villar is being hounded by various corruption issues including the C-5 road extension controversy wherein he allegedly used his influence to reroute the government's road extension project to benefit his own real estate property; the so-called "C5 and a half" controversy wherein Villar allegedly facilitated the illegal conversion of prime rice lands in an Iloilo town so he could build one of his subdivisions there and a road leading up to it; and a land-grabbing case in Norzagaray, Bulacan. The Nacionalista Party standard bearer has denied wrongdoing in all of the issues, maintaining that he follows the law in all of his business activities. Villar was recently quoted in reports as saying a presidential candidate who has not passed any law during his term as lawmaker and who has vices such as heavy smoking is not fit for the presidency. While he did not give names, Villar was apparently referring to Aquino, who has been criticized for not having principally authored significant national laws. Aquino is also a self-confessed heavy smoker. Despite Villar's statement on his smoking habit, Aquino said he would not give it up at the present time because doing so would "add more pressures" that were "unnecessary." "I tried to make sure that I don’t bother anybody when I indulge in that habit. I don’t say it’s a good habit," he said. —KBK, GMANews.TV