VILLAR DENIES JAMBY'S BRIBERY CLAIM / LOREN: MAR ASKED ME TO WITHDRAW
KABACAN, NORTH COTABATO, MARCH 11, 2010 (STAR) By Marvin Sy - Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday denied offering P1 billion to Sen. Jamby Madrigal in exchange for her withdrawal of her complaint on the C-5 Road extension project controversy.Villar brushed aside the claim as part of his daily serving of black propaganda.
Before Madrigal’s bribery claim, another presidential aspirant, Sen. Richard Gordon, also claimed that Villar’s emissary approached him and offered to reimburse all his campaign expenses, as well give him any post in the government he would desire if he pulls out of the race.
“We can see the pattern here. It is just like a relay where (the allegations) are just changing hands. After one comes another and then another,” Villar said in Filipino.
Villar said there is no point in answering the allegations, saying he expects these to continue until the end of the elections.
But in an attempt to answer Madrigal’s allegations, Villar said that he has already spent a lot on his campaign and logic would dictate that he could no longer afford to offer such bribes to anyone.
“I don’t make such offers. I made no offer to anyone and I have never made any offers. We just continue with our campaign and the results are encouraging,” he added.
FROM MALAYA BUSINESS INSIGHT DAILY
Aquino, Villar apologize for Davao forum no-show BY JP LOPEZ - MALAYA
KABACAN, Cotabato – Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar yesterday apologized to religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for his failure to attend the presidential forum Tuesday in Davao City.
The forum, organized by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ which was founded by Quiboloy, featured presidential bets former President Joseph Estrada, Gilberto Teodoro, Richard Gordon, Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas and Eddie Villanueva.
Aside from Villar, Liberal Party’s Benigno Aquino III also failed to attend the forum.
Aquino, in letter to Quiboloy, claimed he was advised by his doctor to skip traveling by air for two days due to a nasal ailment.
Villar was reported to have stayed at a nearby hotel in Davao City for the duration of the forum.
"Humihingi kami ng paumanhin subalit grabe talaga ang demand ng kampanya at nakita ninyo naman na kulang na kulang ang oras sa pag-ikot. Talagang hirap na hirap ang mga kandidato at talagang malakas ang pressure considering na dalawang buwan nalang ang nalalabi sa kampanya," Villar said in an interview after he arrived at the University of Southern Mindanao in this town.
Villar did not elaborate on his absence.
Villar said he has failed to show up in several forums due to a number of reasons. He said he had already explained to the organizers the reasons behind his absence.
"Marami naman talaga akong hindi (napupuntahan) na forum... maraming kadahilanan, ayoko na mag-specify," he said.
"Yung mga nangyari ay para sa amin na lamang, kami na lamang ang nag-uusap," he added.
Aquino said he would seek a dialogue with Quiboloy.
"When I go to Davao I will seek an audience and explain to him. It (absence in the forum) is something beyond my control," he told a press conference in Zamboanga City.
Aquino said his doctors had advised him to avoid traveling by air for at least two days because of barosinusitis which, according to a medical dictionary, "is a risk factor for anyone exposed to ambient pressure changes."
"A lot of people are susceptible to complications if they fly because of changes in atmospheric pressure. My doc advised me to let the medicines (take effect)," he said.
"I still have a cold at this time. I had a problem during the Mayon crisis prior to Christmas. I flew to Legazpi. When I got back to Manila, fluid entered my middle ear and it took three weeks to clear. Instead of air it was filled with fluid. In worst cases you can rupture eardrums," he added.
Quiboloy on Tuesday failed to hide his disappointment on the no-show of the two leading presidential contenders, based on surveys.
"It’s unfair to them (those who appeared), it’s unfair to us and it’s unfair to the Filipino people," said Quiboloy, whose Kingdom of Jesus Christ boasts of six million members. – With Wendell Vigilia
Mar asked me to withdraw - Loren By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) Updated March 11, 2010 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda accused rival candidate Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas of trying to get her to withdraw from the vice presidential race for the May 10 elections.
According to Legarda, the Liberal Party bet made the offer when she passed by his seat at the plenary session in the Senate just before the congressional break last February.
She said Roxas asked her to withdraw from the vice presidential race and support the presidential and vice presidential bids of LP standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and himself.
“If there is anyway that you can support my principal (Aquino) and me, whatever you want we will provide,” Legarda quoted Roxas as saying.
Legarda said she was surprised by the remark but quickly told Roxas: “I don’t understand. I am running for vice president.”
In an interview over radio dzZBB’s forum with Mike Enriquez, Legarda claimed Roxas even clarified his statement, repeating his offer.
The LP, on the other hand, said Legarda’s claim was a “desperate response” to counter the allegations made by Senators Richard Gordon and Jamby Madrigal that NP standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar tried to pay them off to withdraw from the presidential race.
Former President Joseph Estrada earlier revealed Villar tried to bribe him into withdrawing from the race.
LP director general Chito Gascon said Legarda is also getting desperate over Roxas’ commanding lead and has resorted to mudslinging.
Both Gordon and Madrigal claimed Villar sent an emissary, offering to reimburse all their campaign expenses and an assurance of a Cabinet post, an accusation laughed off by the NP camp.
Madrigal claimed a Villar emissary tried to bribe her with P1 billion to just drop the ethics charges against him in connection with the C-5 Road extension controversy.
Legarda, for her part, assured Villar that she would continue her candidacy.
Although she is lagging behind Roxas in the latest surveys, Legarda remains optimistic that she can catch up and overtake Roxas on Election Day.
Legarda also admitted having offers from the administration camp to be the running mate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential candidate Gilbert Teodoro. – With Aurea Calica
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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