If the Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton is the fight of the year in 2009, then the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey is the definitely the 2010 fight of the year !

Definitely the entire Philippines will come to a stop on the night of the fight (March 13, 2010) (Sunday morning here in the Philippines) as people will be looking at the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey youtube video and live streaming. (I hope there will no brown outs !)

Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao will try to add Joshua Clottey as his no. 12^th “victim” in his 11 winning streak. He has proven that he is indeed the best pound for pound in the world as he has demolished legendary fighters such as former WBC lightweight titlist David Diaz, future Hall-of-Famer Oscar De La Hoya, British pride Ricky Hatton and more recently Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto who defeated Clottey by split decision last year.

Pacquiao’s sterling 50-3-2 with 38 KOs needs no further elaboration as the record speaks for itself. His trainer the great Freddie Roach who is awarded trainer of the year for 4 times predicts a knockout win for Pacquiao either in the sixth or seventh rounds.

Pacquiao’s opponent who is considered as an underdog, but should never the less not to be underestimated is the pride of Ghana Africa, who now lives in New York, is none other than, “The Hitter” Joshua Clottey.

Clottey has an impressive 35-3 record. He has won 20 of his fights by knock out and he has never lost via knock out in his entire professional career. A very tough and defensive orthodox fighter whose other nick name is the “Grandmaster” Clottey has size and solid defense and just like Manny Pacquiao has the right combination of speed, stamina, boxing skills and power.

So can the Pacman eat away the Grandmaster’s defenses or will the Grandmaster who is also called “The hitter” overtake the Pacman’s speed, skill and power ? What do you think ? Drop me a comment.

Naturally most people predict that Manny Pacquiao will emerge as the winner. This is mainly due to the fact that Pacquiao has taken on tougher opponents before. There is also logic to the thought that since Pacquiao has easily beaten Cotto, who has won over Clottey, than it is a no brainer to think that Pacquiao would easily beat Clottey.

For those of you who can’t go to the Dallas Cowboys Stadium at Arlington Texas where the “NO HOLDS BARRED” fight between Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey will be held, well you can still watch the fight as if you were really there through the wonders of technology that is of course through the internet or pay per view T.V

While waiting for the real Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey youtube video and live streaming watch this exciting fight appetizer. Oh by the way our very own Arnel Pineda of Journey will be singing the Philippine National anthem on fight night ! LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE !!!

I certainly hope and pray that this will not be in another week of disaster after disaster. Right now, our eyes are glued on the computer surfing Tsunami watch websites and reading about tsunami warnings.

The incoming tsunami is the effect of the massive 8.5 earthquake that rocked Chile last night. Thank God the damage done to Chile despite the strong quake and several aftershocks is not as worst as that of Haiti. Most experts say it is because of the preparations that Chile has undertaken in terms of infrastructure as compared to Haiti. (Chile has strict regulations with regards to their building code, whereas in Haiti there is even no building code) Nevertheless, we are still saddened by the fact that there were still lives lost in Chile.

Since Chile is located at the outermost part of the Pacific ring of fire, it is projected that such a strong earth quake will generate a strong Tsunami that will hit the coast of countries and islands within the pacific ring of fire.

Just several hours ago a tsunami was reported to have hit Ventura California and Hawaii but thank God it was not that strong. However residents of the area are advised to be still vigilant for the next 2 to 3 hours as bigger and stronger waves could be coming. Experts however say that the U.S has been spared.

Just 34 minutes ago, while I am writing this, a Tsunami has already hit Japan but the initial waves are smaller.

Here in the Philippines, the tsunami is expected to hit between 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. It is already 1:35 in my on board computer clock and there are no reports yet of anything that has happened. (I certainly hoping closing my blinds is enough to keep the waves out) Hopefully the Philippines will be spared as well as we haven’t fully recovered yet from Ondoy, the eruption of Mayon Volcano, the global financial crisis and the deadly effects of corrupt government.

To all of those reading this, be warned: THE NEXT 24 HOURS IS CRITICAL FOR COUNTRIES WITHIN THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE. The includes all parts of countries that are facing the Pacific ocean and islands within the Pacific ocean  Examples of these are Peru, Chile, part of Mexico, United States West coast, Alaska, parts of Russia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, New Guinea parts of Australia and New Zealand.  (Google Pacific ring of fire to know if your particular country is affected)

Amidst all of this there is one good news! Jesus is coming soon! As the Bible points out in Mathew 24, 7 and 8 these are just signs of the times to come. “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.” (New Living Translation) It will not get any better; sadly it will even get worst. This is only the first of birth pains. There is more to come. Even so come Lord Jesus! Are you ready for the coming of Jesus? To be prepared you might want to read my post on the true meaning of ash Wednesday and What the Gospel truly is.

Update: THANK GOD NO NO COUNTRY WAS AFFECTED BY THE TSUNAMI !!!

Aside from the Manny Villar song, “Gusto ko happy ka” (I want you to be happy) has become a byword in our house. Everytime somebody asks me not to do something I just tell them “Gusto ko happy ka.” (Just to say something ironic because if I do something and somebody does not like it, it means they are unhappy with me) heheheheh . . .

Manong Johnny or Juan Ponce Enrile is a veteran politician. Indeed one of the most experienced among all senators (And the most senior too) He is also a very capable legislator and a smart lawyer. (Undergraduate degree Ateneo, Law – U.P (Cum Laude) and master’s of law at Harvard) He has authored some very important pieces of legislation and is very active in fighting for constitutional reforms and consumer protection. He was one of the key figures that helped topple the Marcos dictatorship. With all of these accomplishments indeed Manong Johnny deserves another term in the Senate.

With all of Manong Johhny’s accomplishments, it may be said that I am happy with what he has done so far and so is most of our Filipino brethren. Indeed he has been true to his campaign promise of making us happy.

However there are some things I am not happy about Manong Johnny’s stand on certain issues. Because he wants to protect customers, one of his crusades is to slash the rates of what telecom companies charge us. This indeed is a worthy cause considering that we have one of the highest telecommunication charges in the planet, considering also that the Philippines is the “text messaging capital of the world.” Manong Johnny wants us to be happy so he wants to bring down the cost of calls and text messaging. Manong Johnny also opposes taxes on text. This is good for the consumer but bad for the government. If the government looses, then the entire nation looses.

Our government needs to raise taxes very badly otherwise we would suffer as a nation. You don’t have to be an economist to know that the government really needs taxes especially at this time when we are exiting from a world wide financial meltdown.

It is estimated that there are about 70 million mobile phone users in the country. The average person sends about 10 text messages per day. Let’s just slash it down to 5 to have a more conservative approach. If that is P 1.00 per text that means that the telcos are earning P 350 million pesos per day or close to P 127 Billion pesos per year! (Add to it special occasions like Christmas and New year where telcos earn millions per second) Imagine if the government imposes a 30 % tax on such amount, that’s almost P 40 Billion pesos per year for the government! (That’s about the size of the budget of the department of health and twice the budget of DSWD for 2010)

Of course the telecommunications company will pass it to the consumers. In my view a cellphone is not a basic necessity such that you will die with out (as opposed to Food, clothing and shelter) so anybody who owns a cellphone should be taxed for the luxury of owning one.

I know Manong Johnny just wants to make us happy but if individual Filipinos are happy that they have cheaper text cost but however the nation suffers from lower funding from taxes then we will all become unhappy. Happiness should not be the only concern of Filipinos. We should all do our part in helping build the nation especially those who are in the middle and upper class.

Further Manong Johnny is a tax expert. He graduated from Harvard with a Master’s degree in law with specialized training in International Tax Law. I am no tax expert and taxation is the subject I hated most in law school, however I do believe that Manong Johnny should be passing more progressive tax laws instead of trying to over protect consumers. For example Manong Johnny should pass laws imposing higher taxes on luxury items such as  autos, auto insurance quotes, appliances, restaurants, movies, sin items such as liquor, cigarette gambling and a higher tax bracket for those who have higher income at the same time reducing or eliminating taxes on basic necessities and low income individuals.

Nevertheless despite being unhappy with Manong Johnny in some aspects I’m still happy with his commercial because everytime it is shown on T.V, he always makes me smile when he says “Gusto ko happy ka.”

Just to make you smile, here is Manong Johnny’s “Gusto ko happy ka” campaign ad. I’m not campaigning for Manong Johnny but ang gusto ko rin na happy ka. hehehe

I’m a voracious reader and I dream of owning an Amazon kindle. I waited until the international edition is made available. However until now I didn’t purchase one because I still have books that I need to finish. Also I was waiting for any new development in the market that could further bring down the Amazon Kindle International edition price.

And true enough, a new development came. Weeks ago Steve Jobs introduced the Apple iPad, a device that is not only an ebook reader but is one which also lets you do stuff that you could normally do in a laptop in a much cooler way ! The iPad is like an oversized version of an iphone except that you can’t make calls with it.

I’ve never owned any Apple products, although my wife owns an ipod (It was only given to her) Although I acknowledge the superiority of design and engineering of Apple products and the brilliance of Steve Jobs, I’ve never owned any Apple products because they are usually much more expensive compared to other devices that does the same thing.

However the Apple iPad seems to have changed that. Starting at $499 (U.S), it seems that this is probably Apple’s most affordable product considering the bells and whistles that it has to offer. I admit, I have been tempted to ditch my plan to buy a Kindle and get an Apple iPad instead.

But for now I won’t be buying and Apple iPad for the following reasons:

1.) The Apple ipad is a first generation device – I’ve tinkered with gadgets all my life. Experience has taught me never to buy a first generation device. The reason is because most if not all first generation device is fresh out of research and development. Because of this there are always kinks that will soon be discovered. No matter how good the quality control of the company is, there is always an “unseen” defect that is passed on to the buyers of first generation device. Usually it is the second and third generation devices that look much better and have much better features because they build upon the defects of the first generation device. (Remember how ugly the first kindle looked like?) If I am going to buy an ipad, I’ll probably buy the next model.

2.) Possibility of a reduction of price of the Apple ipad – Remember when the Apple iPhone first came out? Two months after that Apple lowered the price. Companies usually do this if the product launching fizzles. Reviews have been mixed so far with regards to the Apple iPad. Some think it is the most brilliant device Apple ever came up with. Others think it’s a total blunder. Others even think that the name sucks! There had been suggestions to slash the price further by $50 to $100. I don’t know if this is ever going happen to the Apple ipad, but it happened to the iPhone so the possibility is not remote.

3.) Availability of lots of books in Apple iPad remains to be seen– If I get an Apple ipad, my primary use for it will be as an ebook reader. If you think about it, it will be worth paying a little bit more for a device that functions more than an ebook reader. Add to this is the fact that it seems much more cool to flip pages in an ipad than a kindle. (See the video and it will make you drool!) Apple says it is working with several book publishers to make ebooks available in the ipad. However it will certainly take some time to have thousands of volumes available in ipad ebook store. Unlike the Amazon Kindle who has been selling ebooks for a long time already, Apple has yet to put up the necessary infrastructure to start selling ebooks. If I am going to buy an Apple ipad I’ve got to make sure a lot of books are already available for download.

4.) Apple iPad competitors could come up with something much better – I’m sure companies like Amazon, Lenovo, Sonny and of course both Microsoft and Google among others are thinking of unveiling a device that as more features and cost much less than the Apple ipad. If somebody comes up with something better, I’ll probably get that one. But if none will match the Apple ipad’s feature and price. I’ll probably get an Apple ipad.

5.) Apple iPad will probably be not available soon in our country – I don’t know how good the distribution channel of Apple is in the Philippines, but usually it will take some time before fresh new technology comes to us. It took a while before Amazon started shipping Kindle to the Philippines, it will probably take several months before the iPad will be made available to Apple iStores here.

So now you too have reasons on why you won’t be buying and Apple iPad, at least not for now. But if somebody gives me an Apple iPad ? Of course I won’t say no!

See the youtube video below to see the features of the Apple iPad:

The battle cry of several presidentiables for the 2010 Philippine presidential elections including that of Noynoy Aquino and Mar Roxas is solving the corruption problem of the Philippines. Their campaign slogan “Walang mahirap pag walang corrupt” says it all. (Literally this translates as “There is no poor if there is no corruption.”)

It cannot be denied that corruption is indeed one of the main causes of the great disparity between the rich and the poor. The statistical data is overwhelming. Numerous studies show that the more corrupt a country is, the more poor people there are.

Advocating a “NO CORRUPTION” stand is easily said than done. True it is a bold statement and it is a grand statement especially if it is coming from people who do not have any issues of corruption. But it is also a motherhood statement. What I would like to hear from the presidentiables especially from NoyNoy and Mar is specifically how they would fight corruption. What is their master plan for fighting corruption? There is no need to tell us what the effects of corruptions are. We all know that. I’ve checked their website and I did not find one. Drop me a comment if you can find one. Solving the corruption problem is not as easy as just saying no corruption.

So what does no corruption mean for our country? Everybody knows that almost everybody here is corrupt especially the government. This is public knowledge.

There are several implications of a no corruption scenario in the Philippines. But I want to focus in the practice of law since this is one of the dealings with government that I am familiar with. No corruption in law practice means:

1.) No corruption means . . . .No court staff will ask or accept any gifts of any kind from anybody in relation to their work, whether in cash or kind directly or indirectly.

2.) No corruption means . . . Court process servers will do their best to locate the addressee of summons and other court processes and that they will do their jobs without any extra form of compensation from litigants.

3.) No corruption means . . . Prosecutors will resolve criminal cases filed with them the quickest possible time without any form of compensation from private offended parties.

4.) No corruption means . . . Sheriffs will execute the judgment without fear or delay even without the winning party giving them anything in return.

5.) No corruption means . . . Judges will resolve cases speedily and impartially and will have the appearances of impartiality at all times.

Now isn’t that wonderful? Justice will be swift and impartial! It may not be perfect but it will be near ideal. However tell me how this is supposed to happen. How in the world will process servers, sheriffs and all other court personnel do the right thing and not accept anything in cash or in kind. With the culture of corruption that is existing not only in the courts but in all branches of government for decades, with people thinking that nothing goes around in the government without the round, I just really wonder how. How will people finally start saying no corruption?

Having a corruption free Philippines and changing the mindset of people to say no to corruption may seem a Herculean task but it is not an impossible task. More than 40 years ago Singapore and Malaysia said no corruption and look where they are now. It was not impossible for them, I’m sure there is still hope for the Philippines.

However take note that the longer we say no to corruption, the longer it will take for us to really take off as an economy. I read in the news that with the current rate we are growing, we will only equal China’s economy within 25 years and it will take us 75 years to equal the economies of first world countries. This is how backward we are economically.

Let’s all say no to corruption now. It does not have to take a Mahathir or a Lee Kuan Yew to change our country. It all begins with us. While it is true that Walang mahirap pag walang corrupt. It is also true that walang corrupt pag walang nagcocorupt. (There are no corrupt officials if there are is nobody that will feed their corruption)

Mahatma Gandhi once wisely said “Be the change you want to see.” If you want to see a corrupt free Philippines, then stop giving to corrupt officials! SAY NO CORRUPTION !

Cebu is known for a lot of things and one of the things it is famous for is Lechon.

We inherited Lechon from the Spaniards. The word “Lechon” originated from the Spanish term leche (milk). Originally it was meant to refer to a “suckling pig” that is roasted. Nowadays the term Lechon refers to any pig that is roasted, while a suckling pig that is roasted is more specifically is called a “lechon de leche.”

Lechon is roasted all over the country. It is commonly found when there are big occasions such as fiestas and parties. However there are certain parts of the Philippines that make lechon their specialty. In these parts, lechon taste more deliciously than anywhere else in the country. Several places have claimed to have the best tasting lechon in the Philippines. However none can match the famous lechon de Cebu or most commonly called as Cebu Lechon.

However take note that in Cebu, there are several places where you can get lechon. There are hundreds of lechon stalls almost everywhere. Some people think that if you buy lechon anywhere in Cebu you have already tasted the best tasting lechon in the country. Actually this is a misconception. If you want to taste the best lechon in Cebu you need to find out where the best among the best is being roasted.

This may be a bit hard considering that taste is relative and what is delicious depends upon the taste bud of the beholder. But trust me on this, I am from Cebu and I have lived in Cebu for most of my life, and I can tell where exactly in Cebu you can get the best tasting Lechon from Cebu.

The best tasting Cebu lechon I believe can be found in a place 13 kilometers away from Cebu City, the next city to the south of Cebu City which is Talisay City. (This is where I grew up) Almost all people in Cebu who has lived a long time here knows that Talisay City is where the best tasting Cebu lechon can be found. In fact Talisay City has an annual lechon festival which commemorates the glory days of the place being Cebu’s number one lechon maker. Now there are hundreds of lechon makers all over Cebu, but before people used to come to Talisay to get their lechon.

In particular, the best lechon store in Talisay is of course none other than the pioneering lechon makers of Talisay, Mila’s lechon located at Poblacion Talisay City. Unfortunately Mila’s did not do enough marketing and branding of their products.

Second runner up of course is the much more popular CNT lechon which can be found in most big malls and which has a more visible presence in the City and even in Manila. Tied in second place is Alejo’s lechon which is another popular lechon maker in the South.

So if you are ever in Cebu, don’t just buy any cebu lechon. Choose from among these outstanding lechon makers. A warning though, staring at the picture does make you hungry and may want you to fly out to Cebu immediately to get the best tasting Cebu lechon !!! By the way if you are ever in Cebu to grab a lechon, don’t forget to invite me hehehehehehehe:-)

Note: This is not a paid post

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent Season. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates Ash Wednesday by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance. It is a day of contemplating one’s transgressions. Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days, more exactly 40 days excluding Sundays before Easter. Usually it is moveable as it depends on the date of Easter. The use of ashes in repentance is a common practice in Bible times. To dust yourself with ashes is a way of expressing sorrow for your sins.

Growing up as an Independent Fundamental Baptist we never observed ash Wednesday. Fundamental Baptist as much as possible stay away from observing traditions made by the Roman Catholics in order to make a distinction. I have no problem with this considering that the Philippines labels itself as a “Christian” nation. More than 90 % of this country claims to be Christians. But the sad truth remains that there are only a few real Christians. So in order to distinguish themselves from “Roman Catholic Christianity,” Fundamental Baptist rarely observes the traditions followed by the Roman Catholic church. One can really see the need to make a distinction.

I have no problem if people observed ash Wednesday or not. Some evangelical denominations like the United Methodists church, Reformed churches, Church of the Nazarene, Anglican/Episcopal churches, Lutheran churches and even some Baptist denomination in the U.S.A and other parts of the world celebrate Ash Wednesday.

The true meaning of Ash Wednesday is that it means nothing if the heart of the person has not truly genuinly repented. You can cloth yourself in sackcloth and put ashes in your head as what is done in Biblical times or you can bathe yourself in ashes. You can abstain from meat or even go on fasting for several days. You can even rid yourself of all things “worldly.” But the truth of the matter is if deep in your heart you have not truly repented it means nothing. Observing the outside rituals are all useless. What is important is what is inside your heart.

The Hebrew word for repentance is two beautiful words. It is the words “shuv” which means “to return” and “nicahm” which means to feel sorry. The Koine Greek word is even more beautiful. It is the word “Metanoia” which is a combination of the preposition ‘meta’ which means “after” and the verb “noeo” which means the result of perceiving. Combining the preposition and the verb we come up with the meaning of “Metanoia” which is “To think differently after.” To be truly in repentance or to be truly in Metanoia is to think differently after perceiving your condition. It is a change of mind which is accompanied by regret and change of conduct. An example of true “Metanoia” is found in the story of the prodigal son as written in Luke Chapter 15.

Repentance is a necessary component of Salvation. Without real and genuine repentance there can be no real Salvation. (Acts 20: 21, Romans 10:9 and 10) Real and genuine repentance is God-given, Spirit-led change of heart and mind.

Most people who profess to be Christians who observed Ash Wednesday think that they have already “repented.” For them it is enough that they go to church have ashes written in their foreheads, abstain from “worldly” pleasures for one day and then that’s it. The next day, weeks or months they go back to their old ways sinning like they used to do as before, until the next ash Wednesday or Lent season comes next year. These people have failed to grasp the true meaning of Ash Wednesday. Sadly, they have not truly repented. They have failed to grasp the true meaning of repentance.

What about you? Have you truly repented? Do you understand what it means to truly repent of your sins? Are you saved? Are you sure that you will go to heaven when you die? Are you freed from the burden of sins? Are you sick and tired of your life? Do you want real change? Perhaps you would like to understand what true repentance really is. Click here to view this presentation entitled “Another interview with God.” You might also want to view the Gospel tract “Who do you think I am”

Jokes, spoofs and a topic for chit-chats and “chizmis” which is the favorite past time of Filipinos. This has what has become of the C-5 road controversy. Like a fish bone that seem stuck on one’s throat that never seems to go away despite what you do to it, this is what the C-5 road controversy has become to Senator and presidential candidate Manny Villar.

Despite the fact that Manny Villar has advanced so much in the latest survey, I believe that if it were not for the C-5 road controversy, it is without a doubt that Manny Villar could have probably overtaken Ninoy Aquino by now in the survey.

So what is the truth behind the C-5 road controversy? The truth behind this is I believe the Rubicon for those who are still undecided whether to vote for Aquino or Villar, that is why it is very important to know what is the really the truth behind the C-5 road controversy.

In order that I am not be labeled as biased or that I am pro or anti-Villar, let the facts speak for themselves. I will let you decide on what is really the truth behind the C-5 road controversy.

Below are three youtube videos. The first one is taken from the ABS-CBN program of veteran broadcaster Ted Failon who seems to judge Villar as guilty based on two points first is an anti-graft provision on the Constitution and second is the principle of “Res Ipsa Loquitor” (Or according to Ted Failon “Res ipsa subdivi” – Just watch the video on what he means by that)

The second video is a presentation by the GMA7 program of Winnie Monsod. Monsod gives a more balanced presentation presenting the facts as it is and lets the listeners decide for themselves. (Although at the end of the program, you can conclude that she is somehow inclined to believe that Villar is guilty)

The 3^rd video is a news item condensing the privileged speech made in the Senate by Manny Villar himself who answers the allegations point by point all questions raised by Ted Failon, Winnie Monsod and all his detractors. Click here to view the full transcript of Manny Villar’s privilege speech in the Senate on the C-5 road controversy.

So is Manny Villar guilty as portrayed by his detractors? Did Manny Villar sufficiently defend himself? Are you satisfied with his explanation? What is really the truth behind the C-5 controversy? You decide! Drop me a comment.

I didn’t get a chance to feature a live streaming of the Nonito Donaire vs. Manuel Vargas fight last weekend so I will be featuring the Nonito Donaire vs. Manuel Vargas youtube video.

Once again the “Filipino flash” Nonito Donaire has brought the Filipinos glory when he scored a victory over Mexican fighter Manuel “Chango” Vargas. This improved Nonito Donaire’s ranking to 23 wins 15 of those via knock outs while bringing Manuel Vargas record to 5 losses.

The fight dubbed as Pinoy Power 3 or Latin Fury in pay-per-view was held last February 13, 2010 at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada. Donaire’s original opponent was suppose to be Gerson Guerrero but Guerrero failed his eye exam so he was “substituted” by Vargas.

Vargas’ who use to have a 26-4-1 record was knocked down by Nonito Donaire on the 3^rd round. It seems that Vargas couldn’t cope with Donaire’s speed, power and skills. This was the Filipino flash first defense of his interim WBA World super flyweight title

So here is the Nonito Donaire vs. Manuel Vargas youtube video:

Manny Villar has been somewhat silent for a long time about the C-5 road controversy. For a long time, he has not answered the accusation in the senate since the controversy erupted. Finally on Feburary 2, 2010, Manny Villar gives a privilege speech defending himself against the accusation hurled against him concerning the C-5 road controversy.

Here is the Full transcript of Manny Villar’s privilege speech on the C-5 controversy courtesy of ABS-CBN:

Mr. President:

I stand before the Senate and the People of the Philippines in defense of my name, my honor, and dignity against my accusers in the so-called C5 controversy. To set the records straight and to prove to everybody na hindi ako duwag at hindi ako sinungaling. Wala pong duwag na taga-Tondo.

Ako’y dating mahirap; di ko ikinahihiya ang aking pinagmulan. Sa murang edad, nalaman ko agad na di ako kakain kung di ito pagpapawisan. Mula sa aking mga magulang – isang tindera at isang karaniwang empleyado – natutunan kong mabuhay nang marangal. Siyam kaming magkakapatid na itinataguyod sa malinis na pamamaraan.

Natatandaan ko pa noon, isang banig lang kami siyam, isang kulambo…

Ngunit taas-noong masasabi ko sa inyo na kahit na anong hirap ang dinanas namin, wala kaming inagawan, wala kaming inagrabyado. Wala sa dugo namin ang manloko o mandaya ng kapwa. Ang mga nakamit ko sa buhay ay aking pinagpaguran. Mula pa nung skwater ako sa Tondo, ang kinagisnan ko na ay magtrabaho. Kaya sa tulong ng Maykapal, ng pagsusumikap at ng sipag at tiyaga ay naiahon ko ang sarili ko mula sa kahirapan.

Wala akong minanang yaman. Hindi ako haciendero. Wala akong minana kundi kabutihang asal; ang lumingon sa pinanggalingan at tumulong sa mga nangangailangan.

Nung gumanda ang aking kapalaran, ninais kong suklian ang tadhana sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong sa mga kapuspalad at manilbihan sa mga nangangailangan. Natanto ko na iyon ang aking misyon sa buhay kung kayat ako’y nabiyayaan.

Ngayon, bagamat nais kong ipagpatuloy ang serbisyo publiko, pilit akong hinihila pababa ng aking mga katunggali sa pulitika. Sila’y nagmimistulang mga talangka.

Sabi nila ako ay masyado daw mayaman. San daw galing ang yaman ko? Pilit nilang nilalagyan ng malisya ang pag-ahon ko mula sa kahirapan. Magpapayaman pa daw ako pag nanalo. Babawiin ko daw ang ginagastos ko sa kampanya.

I can explain my wealth. I am the principal shareholder in a public company that I founded. From a small gravel and sand enterprise 30 years ago with but an old beaten up truck as its main asset, I have been able to grow it into a trustworthy, viable, and solid real estate company. Naging pinakamalaking homebuilder bago pa ako pumasok sa pulitika. In fact, nakapag-raise po kami ng pera at ako naman ay pinalad kahit papaano marami pong nag invest. Binenta ko parte ng aking kumpanya at malaki ang kinita namin doon. It is a matter of public record at pwede naman pong tignan kahit maski sino po.

In business circles, I have been known as the brown taipan. My company was already the largest in the industry sa murang pabahay, again bago pa ako pumasok sa pulitika.

Hindi ko kailangan ang P200 million na sinasabi nilang nakimkim ko sa proyekto ng C5 extension. Di pa sila nakuntento, pinalaki pa ito. Pagkatapos ng so-called investigation nila ay P6 billion na raw ang napunta sa akin. Nakakatawa sapagkat hindi pa na re-release ang nasabing P200 million. Pero minsan kung makarinig ako ng ibang kalaban akala mo ay binulsa ko ang P200 million and yet they know hindi naman ni-release yung pera na iyon.

Pangalawa, kung i-release man ito ay di dadaan sa kamay ko yan dahil ang DPWH ang implementing agency. Pero nililito po ang ating mga kababayan, kung magsalita binulsa P200 million. Paano binulsa e hindi naman ni-release ni hindi ko kilala yung contractor.

Uulitin ko po. Pulitika na naman ito.

Dalawang taon na po ang isyung ito. Hindi ko ubos-maisip kung bakit naggugugol po ang Senado ng ganito karaming oras upang ipilit sa taumbayan na ako ay magnanakaw.

Pilit na sisinira ang aking pangalan. Tinalakay nang napakaraming ulit na itong C5. Nadinig ko na ang mga akusasyon. Inihayag ko na ang aking saloobin at depensa nang napakaraming beses na din.

Walang makapagsasabi na hindi ako sumagot sa mga paratang sa Senado. Nandito kayong lahat noong ako ay nagsalita dito. Nagsalita na din akong mahigit daang-daang interview na ibingay ko sa media. Nandito po ang ating mga kasamahan sa media. Sa radio, print and television. Nagsalita na ako sa daang-daang mga forums ipinapaliwanag itong C-5 issue. Linagay ko ito sa website. We printed tens of thousands of pamphlets explaining the C-5 controversy. Nag-advertise kami sa aking hangarin na maipaliwanag sa tao ito diretso. Dinala ko ang mga journalists dito sa C-5, sa dalawang kalye doon. Wala akong nilihim tungkol sa aking partisipasyon sa marangal na proyektong ito.

Ako’y nananawagan na sana’y maging patas naman ang aking mga kasamahan sa Senado. Noon ko pang sinabi at pinatunayang wala akong kasalanan at walang anomalya at katiwalian sa C5. Wag po nating hayaan na maging kasangkapan ng pulitika ang napakagandang proyektong ito.

Subalit papaano makakakita ang nagbubulagbulagan? Pano makakarinig ang nagbibingibingihan? At ika nga, ang pinakamahirap gisingin ay ang nagtutulug-tulugan. At higit sa lahat, papano magkakaroon ng hustisya at katotohanan sa isang kasong may hatol na bago pa man litisin?

Mr. President, I was condemned without the benefit of a fair trial.

Alam ko namang hindi ako titigilan. Yan ang dahilan, Mr. President, kaya ayaw kong sumali sa sarswelang ito na ikinubli sa tawag na imbestigasyon. Ang isang boxer ba ay lalaban kung may decision na ang mga hurado?

Sa kagustuhan nilang sirain ako sa mata ng bayan, ang isang marangal at napakandang proyekto pa ang babaluktutin at gagamitin laban sa akin.

This is precisely what’s wrong with our country, Mr. President.

Ang mga gumagawa ng tama at kabutihan ay ang siya pang kinakastigo. Kung ganyan ang ipagpapatuloy natin, wala nang mangangahas mangarap at gumawa ng mabuti. Only those with vision, capability, and are strong-willed can be part of something like the C5 project – a project that shows the country is moving forward. While many of us who want to get elected promise progress for our country, C5 is that promise realized. It is there for everyone to benefit from and take advantage of and I am proud to be part of this project.

The construction of the road, which is meant to serve the people is far from complete. A day lost in the development of the C5 extension project is a day taken away from the people we are committed to serve. They need the road. They need our help. But some of the senators here have other needs – such as a need to embarrass me in public. They want to weaken my candidacy. They want me out of their way.

Nalulungkot ako na ito ay nagpapalayo sa atin mula sa sinumpaan nating trabaho sa Senado. Habang nagbabangayan ang mga senador ay may mga tao sa labas ng dating marangal na institusyon na ito na naghihirap. I am here today for the people who are not here in this room today. Kahit na magdamag tayong magdebate, sigurado tayong may kakainin sa ating pag-uwi ng bahay. Ngunit ang karamihan sa ating mahihirap na kababayan ay di pwedeng umupo lamang at maghintay matapos tayo. Kung di sila kakayod, wala silang kakainin.

For the record, Mr. President, I want to set the facts straight. The report of the committee of the whole – as submitted and read to the public last Monday – is most unfair to me. I believe it was so presented to deceive the people. It was meant to destroy my reputation.

Whatever the motives of my accusers, the report does not reflect the truth.

Wala pong katotohanan dito.

Wala po akong kasalanan, wala pong anomalya sa C5 project, at hindi po ako nakinabang. Sa mata ng Diyos, masasabi ko iyan na hindi ako nakinabang. Ito ay magandang proyekto. Mula simula hanggang huli, ang sinasabing imbestigasyon ay punung puno ng pulitika. Lahat ng aking mga kalalaban sa election ay nagimbento.

Sila’y nagluto ng isang kaso na kanilang pinalaki sa media.

Nung binato nila ito sa Ethics Committee at nalamang hindi sakop ng ethics ito, nagluto ng special set of rules para lang sa akin at in-apply retroactively — in clear violation of our Constitution.

Sila mismo nag conduct ng hearings, at kung dati ay executive session dapat ay ginawa nilang publiko para lamang sa akin. An unprecedented 19 public hearings were staged to shame me. Napakaliwanag na pamumulitika lang. Gumawa sila ng kakaibang pamantayan para sa akin lang.

At nang lahat ng saksi ay nagsabi na wala akong kasalanan, nagluto na naman sila ng sariling desisyon.

Lutong Macau lahat ito, Mr. President. Lutong Macau mula simula hanggang katapusan.

Nung una, double insertion ang paratang. Nung nakitang di naman totoo at para sa dalawang proyekto naman pala yun, realignment naman ang banat. Nung napakita namin na dalawang kalye ito – isang toll road at isang surface road, dalawang kalye po yan, parang NLEX at Mac Arthur. Naging overpricing naman, nanganganak talaga e. Nung napakitang wala namang overpricing, conflict-of-interest naman. Napabulaanan ko yun at sa katunayan ay may ruling ang Department of Justice na walang conflict-of-interest.

Simple lang naman ang paliwanag e. Napaliwanag ko na ng simple dati pero tila walang naririnig. Kumbinsido na sila sa kasinungalingan nila.

Naluto na.

For the record, Mr. President, the C5 Road Project is not just my own personal project though it is one I am proud to be associated with – all of these controversies notwithstanding. This is a project of the government implemented through the Department of Public Works and Highways. Renamed the President Carlos P. Garcia Avenue, the C5 Road was conceptualized as early as 1946, and runs from Manila Bay-Malolos-Caloocan-Quezon City-Taguig/Pateros-Paranaque-Las Piñas-Cavite. It is a 51-kilometer long thoroughfare starting from Manila Bay, and goes full circle to end likewise in Manila Bay.

Of the entire stretch, 32.5 kilometers are fully developed, covering Malabon and Caloocan going all the way to Quezon City-Taguig/Pateros-Paranaque-Las Piñas. As I am an ardent supporter of development, I have been pushing for the completion of the project.

I have emphasized in the past that the C5 Road Extension project would ease the worsening traffic problem common in the neighboring cities of Paranaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa, as well as the nearby towns of Cavite. Kita po natin yung grabeng trapik sa Coastal Road araw araw. Kawawa naman po ang mga taong sa Las Piñas, Cavite, Parañaque. Araw-araw grabe ang trapiko. And I have lived in Las Piñas for the most part of my life. I can attest to the severe traffic situation residents face there every day.

Even on weekends, it is almost impossible to exit BF Homes via its two main gates, the Alabang and Lopez gates, without experiencing at least 30 minutes of traffic. The Lopez gate, being nearest to the C5 Extension, is under frequent gridlock due to a large number of vehicles passing through BF Homes, which itself straddles the cities of Paranaque, Las Piñas, and Muntinlupa.

May I also add that with the completion of the C5 road extension, as envisioned, travel time from northern areas to and from the industrial parks in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas will be shortened. This translates to fuel savings for motorists.

For this reason, I proposed an amendment in the form of additional budget amounting to P200 million for a certain portion of C5 –the flyover to be constructed in the Cavite Coastal Road.

May I enlighten you, fellow legislators, that this is an additional amount to the budget of the SAME project. Meaning, the total appropriation should have reflected P400 million in the GAA, instead of P200 million as earlier proposed. For your information, the proposed aggregate budget for the C-5 is placed at P4.2 billion.

To this end, allow me to bring to your attention the declarations made by Atty. Yolanda Doblon, Director General of the Legislative Budget and Research Monitoring Office (LBRMO).

In the hearing of October 6, 2009, Atty. Yolanda Doblon categorically said that there is no double insertion in the C-5 road project.

Again, I would like to repeat, reference is the TSN of October 6, 2009 public hearing of the Committee of the Whole, pages 128-136.

Of significance, let me bring to your attention too that I have no doubt that the DPWH knew and got the instruction correctly. In the public hearing of October 15, 2008, Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane was right in saying that the two 200 million pesos were allocated for two different sites, but they are still within the confines of the C5 road project. Hence, I insist it is for the same project (C5), albeit on different locations – the first being the Sucat road flyover, and second, the Coastal road.

The “double entry” or insertion of P200 million is not irregular because it covers two different – let me repeat, 2 different and separate segments of the C5 project.

“Insertion,” per se, or amendment, which is the appropriate parliamentary lexicon, is not illegal as it is a right commonly observed within the realm of policymaking to allow lawmakers to adjust the proposed annual budget by introducing appropriate amendments, with the public’s welfare in mind.

Wala po akong kasalanan, wala pong anomalya sa C5 project, at hindi po ako nakinabang. Pulitika lamang ito.

I Did Not Use Influence vis-à-vis the Project

According to the Committee Report, the Las Piñas-Paranaque Link Road Project and the DPWH C-5 Road Extension Project were made to pass through the properties of my corporations, instead of a straight alignment. It went further to say that the alignment of the C5 Road Extension segment of the Manila Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP) of the Toll Regulatory Board has to be changed just to accommodate the alignments of the Las Piñas Paranaque Link Road Project and the DPWH C5 Road Extension Project.

These are blatant lies, Mr. President. Kasinungalingan po ito.

I did not direct, or influence, the DPWH to have the C5 Project pass through my properties. The fact is that the conceptualization, alignment, planning and execution of the said project were all done by the DPWH.

If indeed there was any re-alignment of MCTEP, it only involved a “kilometer” of said alignment. Surely, such did not cause the MCTEP to be mothballed. There is no evidence that the supposed re-alignment resulted in MCTEP becoming unnecessary as to require it to be discontinued.

As to the alleged re-alignment of the C5 Road Extension Project, it was only a slight shifting of one bridge (Bridge No. 2) in the upstream direction in order not to create conflict with the proposed alignment of the LRT Line I South Extension Project. This slight shifting of Bridge No. 2 was at the request of LRTA; and did not involve my intervention or even a request from me.

As explained in the letter dated 15 October 2008, of DPWH Regional Director Roberto G. Lala, CESO III, to DPWH Secretary Hermogenes E. Ebdane, Jr.:

“The segment of C5 Project that is described hereto is from Sucat Road to Pres. Quirino Ave. (also known as Paranaque-Las Piñas Link Road)

The project was not re-routed as it followed the original route or alignment prepared by the DPWH-NCR except for the location of one bridge (Bridge No. 2) whose centerline was slightly shifted in the upstream direction in order not to create conflict with the proposed alignment of LRT Line I South Extension Project. This was made in attention to the request of LRTA to then NCR Regional Director Salvador A. Pleyto, per letter dated Feb. 23, 2001 copy attached marked as Annex I. But even with this slight change, the 30 meters road right-of-way was still maintained. Except for such shifting of the Bridge No. 2, no more modification was made from the original alignment up to its construction phase from Sucat Road to Pres. Quirino Avenue.”

It is noteworthy that at no time during the entire adjudicatory proceedings did the complainant and counsel ever present testimonial or documentary evidence to disprove the truth and veracity of this letter of DPWH Regional Director Lala.

Wala po akong kasalanan, wala pong anomalya sa C5 project, at hindi po ako nakinabang. This was all politics.

There is no corruption

They accused me of financially benefiting from the C5 transaction; that I made a pile of money out of it.

There is nothing farther from the truth, Mr. President.

It is common knowledge that the fund was impounded by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), upon directions from President Gloria Arroyo herself. It means the fund has not been released by the DBM. So where is corruption there?

Ito ang nakakagulat. Naririnig ko sa radyo, ‘Nasaan yung P200 million?’ Hindi po ni-release yan. Yan ay nasa imahinasyon lamang ng ilang senador.

As regards those deeds of sale and payments made by DPWH to companies my family owned – in legal terms, the payments made are called just compensation. Properties were taken and so corresponding payments should be made.

I could not have possibly prevented the construction of the road. That is the government’s prerogative. But I cannot, in my conscience, sacrifice the interest of the general public because some of my companies’ properties will be affected.

Let me stress that as developers of real estate properties, the Villar companies could have, by themselves, constructed the road and earmarked some portions as exclusive in which case, the properties could have had higher values. Mas malaki sana ang kinita ng mga kumpanyang yan kung naging exclusive. But public interest demands that we open the properties and allow motorists and the commuting public to utilize the roads.

Besides, allow me to state that I am not a member of the Bicameral Conference that approved the 2008 budget. That is significant to prove that I did not dip my fingers or never exerted influence in the passage of said legislation.

More importantly, not having anything to do with the final disposition of my proposed amendments to the 2008 GAA, I cannot be accused of proposing the amendments in order to benefit my real estate companies.

The Senate’s role in the enactment of the GAA starts and ends with its proposing and approving amendments thereto. Once approved and signed into law by the President of the Philippines, the Senate or the Senators no longer have anything to do with the disposition or implementation of the GAA, which belongs solely to the implementing agencies of the Executive Department.

Above all, there is nothing from the evidence presented to even suggest that I ever intervened in the disposition or implementation of the 2008 GAA as to derive benefit for myself or my real estate companies to the detriment of the Filipino people.

On the contrary, the records show that other land owners in the same area of Las Piñas and Parañaque whose lands were also taken by the DPWH as right of way for the C5 Project were long paid ahead for their lands, while some of my companies to this day remain unpaid and have not even filed the requisite documents with the DPWH to facilitate payment. Hindi nga kami binayaran pero Ok na rin yun dahil kailangan ng bayan.

No Overpricing

The C5 issue brought with it otherwise irrelevant matters, but I am compelled to answer anyway for they mischievously depict this humble representation as a scheming man – which I am definitely not.

There is an allegation that as a result of this undue advantage, the properties owned by the Villar companies are grossly overpriced. Allow me to state, for the record: zonal value is determined by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), not by senators, not by me.

There is absolutely no evidence that I ever interfered with the issuance by the BIR of the zonal valuation of the properties owned by my companies.

Sa mismong report, sinabi na ‘There is no evidence to prove the direct participation of Senator Villar in the overpricing of such properties.’

Ito ay Page 83, Paragraph 1, verbatim:

“As to the valuation of the properties of Senator Villar’s corporations that were acquired for roads-right-of-way for the Las Piñas-Parañaque Link Road Project and the DPWH C-5 Road Extension Project, although there is no evidence to prove the direct participation of Senator Villar in the overpricing of such properties, it is fair and safe to assume that Senator Villar knew about the said overpricing as his corporation stood to gain from such transactions with the government and considering the closeness of Senator Villar to Engr. Adriano who was directly involved in these transactions.”

Samakatwid, ang ibig sabihin nito – sa hinaba-haba ng kanilang mga ebidensya, halos 127 yata, ang kanilang basehan lang ay “assumption” o “yung kanilang statement” na “it is fair and safe to assume.”

Nakakalungkot naman po yun. Ito ay sobrang mali.

Consistent ang Supreme Court sa decision nito na hindi basehan ang simpleng assumptions para mag-convict lalo na kung ito ay patungkol sa ethical behavior.

Proof, not mere conjectures or assumptions, should be proffered to indicate that the accused had taken part in, to use the Court’s words in Arias vs. Sandiganbayan, the “planning, preparation and perpetration of the alleged conspiracy to defraud the government” for, otherwise, any “careless use of the conspiracy theory (can) sweep into jail even innocent persons who may have (only) been made unwitting tools by the criminal minds” really responsible for that irregularity. (for reference, ito ay kaso ng Sabiniano v. CA, GR 76558, October 6, 1995).

Sa mga kaso sa Amerika na applicable sa Pilipinas at ginamit ito ni Pangulong Estrada mismo sa kanyang mga kaso, sinasabi rin na:

“Logical reasoning in the law does not work in this manner. Courts are not allowed to supply missing evidence or to give a party the benefit of unreasonable speculation or forced inferences. Liability cannot rest upon guesswork, conjecture or speculation beyond inferences to be drawn from evidence.”

Ang sabi nga, inference must be the product of reason and logic and it must rest on evidence, i.e. on probability rather than on speculative possibility or conjecture, and must comport with physical laws and human experience.

Certainly, my participation cannot simply be “safely assumed”. It is never “safe” to assume malicious intent.

Moreover, the supposed higher valuation given the Masaito property was duly explained by the same BIR officer who issued the certificates of zonal valuation for it. Former BIR-Parañaque Revenue Officer Carmelita Bacod, whom complainant Senator had subpoenaed and who issued the certification on the zonal valuation of the Masaito lots, not only verified the P30,000.00 zonal valuation for the said lots but also the P4,500.00 per square meter zonal valuation for the other lots along Sucat Road.

She explained that the other lots along Sucat Road are classified as “residential”; hence, they have a zonal valuation of only P4,500.00 per square meter. This is basic in real estate. She went on to explain further that the Masaito lots were classified as “commercial/regular,” hence, they have a zonal valuation of P30,000.00 per square meter. (TSN of 22 September 2009, 12:23pm, pp. 7-8).

Ang totoo niyan – mura pa ho yan.

In other words, the P30,000.00 per square meter valuation for the Masaito lots in question did not come from thin air. Former Parañaque Revenue District Officer Bacod got the figure from page 9 of the Revised Zonal Valuation of 1998 of the Department of Finance.

Ms. Bacod was even adamant about the zonal valuation as she declared at the hearing on 22 September 2009 that if she were to issue another certification, she would use the same zonal valuation for the Masaito lots. (Ibid., p. 7). Thus:

“MR. FRANCISCO: But if you are to make another certification and you were asked for the zonal valuation of San Dionisio, Sucat Road, what will you state?

MS. BACOD: I will state the same facts as contained in the same certification.

MR. FRANCISCO: Which is?

MS. BACOD: That the zonal value of the property will still be 30,000 pesos per square meter.

MR. FRANCISCO: Even if that is not found in the Revised Zonal Valuation of 1998?

MS. BACOD: Yes, because in this page 9 of San Dionisio, even if the zonal value of Don Antonio Avenue – the zonal value is 4,500, it is residential. But we have – on page 9, we have commercial/residential valuation of P30,000.00. And for sure, my basis for classifying this property as commercial/regular is the tax declaration presented to us as issued by the Assessor’s Office classifying the same property as commercial/residential as to its actual use, Your Honor.”

Interestingly, the said testimony of Ms. Bacod was conveniently ignored in the Report.

Again, wala po akong kasalanan, wala pong anomalya sa C5 project, at hindi po ako nakinabang. Pulitika po lamang ito.

No conflict of interest

While none of the witnesses they presented accused me of any wrongdoing – I was shocked, and still am in shock, that the conclusion they arrived at is completely the opposite.

In the Report, they concluded that I violated the Constitution for my alleged financial interest in the C5 Project, which as senator placed me in a conflict of interest situation.

First. I did not author the 2008 GAA as no senator can be its author since the GAA originates solely from the House of Representatives.

Second. It is not true that I did not disclose my financial interest in the companies whose properties will be traversed by the MCTEP and the C5 Road Extension Project.

The truth of the matter is that one of my companies even sought the opinion of the Department of Justice precisely to determine whether or not the validity of the proposed transaction will be affected by the fact that I am its principal stockholder and whether the proposed acquisition will be violating any law or regulation, particularly the Constitution.

And, significantly, on November 9, 1999, the DOJ, through Justice Serafin R. Cuevas, rendered an opinion holding that the acquisition by the Government of private property for right-of-way purposes does not fall within the Constitutional prohibition against Members of Congress having direct or indirect financial interest in any contract with the government.

As aptly put by then Secretary of Justice Cuevas:

“In the instant case, there is no showing that the principal stockholder of the Adelfa Properties Inc. (API) took advantage of his position as a member of the House of Representatives to enable API to enter into a contract with the TRB involving the API’s property. The transaction arose as a necessary consequence of the government’s decision to implement the MCTEP and for which it became necessary for the TRB to acquire properties for right-of-way purposes. The API property happens to be one of those that the TRB had identified as necessary for the implementation of the MCTEP.

Clearly, the proposed acquisition by the TRB on a voluntary sale and purchase basis of the subject property of the API for right-of-way purposes does not fall within the subject constitutional prohibition. The said proposal is a mere consequence of the exercise by the TRB of its power to “condemn private property for public use subject to the provisions of existing law.” In acquiring the API’s property through negotiated sale, the TRB was acting in pursuant to law.

In sum, inasmuch as the proposed transaction was not sought by the API nor by any of its stockholders, but was initiated by the TRB in view of the importance and urgency on the part of the government to acquire the subject properties of the API to obviate delay in the continuous implementation and eventual completion of the MCTEP, this Department does not foresee in situations such as this, that a principal stockholder of a private corporation who happens to be a member of the House of Representatives would be cited as having violated Section 14, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution which expressly prohibits legislators from being directly or indirectly interested financially in any contract with the government or any of its subdivisions, agencies or instrumentalities.”

Again, the DOJ opinion was conveniently ignored by the Committee.

On the P6,226,070,427

Worse, the committee recommends that I return the amount of P6 billion, which I allegedly made the people to suffer.

Nakakatawa naman ito, Mr. President.

Let me state categorically that no government money was wasted in the C5 Project – not a single centavo! Ni hindi nga ni-release, o binayaran yung right-of-way.

To reiterate, there was no “re-alignment” of the C5 Road Extension Project or of the MCTEP.

The MCTEP was not rendered useless by the construction of the C5 Road Extension Project. These 2 projects are entirely separate and distinct projects. The MCTEP is a toll road, which requires payment of toll fees; while the C5 Road Extension is a public road, which allows free passage to all commuters. In other words, the C5 Road Extension is an alternative route to commuters who cannot afford to pay toll fees. The MCTEP has “limited access”, meaning it has a single entry and exit point; while the C5 Road Extension has “open access”, such that through said road commuters can access various cities and/or municipalities. Clearly, by their very nature, it is not difficult to comprehend that the 2 projects are not mutually exclusive of each other or that the C5 Road Extension is a duplicate of the MCTEP. The construction of the C5 Road Extension did not result in MCTEP becoming unnecessary as to require its being discontinued. The truth is both projects are necessary to decongest the worsening traffic condition in Paranaque, Las Piñas and Cavite.

Para itong NLEX at MacArthur. Dahil po merong NLEX ay hindi na kailangan gawin yung MacArthur o dahil may MacArthur ay di na kailangan ang NLEX.

Inuulit ko po, right-of-way payments on the MCTEP were not wasted. The roads acquired are still there, owned by the government. Once the TRB shall have found another joint venture partner, the expressway project can continue.

Wala po akong ninakaw sa kaban ng bayan.

Wala po akong kasalanan, wala pong anomalya sa C5 project, at hindi po ako nakinabang. Napulitika po si Manny Villar.

On the Unjust Process

Mahirap gisingin ang nagtutulug-tulugan. Ngunit mas mahirap pa lang gisingin ang kalaban sa pulitika.

Kahit anong paliwanagan, hindi naniniwala ang mga ito sa akin.

Binago ang proseso para yurakan ang aking dangal at sirain ang aking pagkatao.

Umpisahan natin sa nakahilerang hearing na naka schedule sa Senado. Kahit hindi pa dapat, inuna ang C5 issue para matiyempuhan ang pagkampanya sa darating na eleksiyon. Ito ang inaasahan nilang lahat na makapagbaba ng aking ratings sa mga surveys.

Pangalawa – Ang Ethics committee hearing ay karaniwang pribado at hindi pang media, pangmadla para maprotektahan ang kapakanan ng mga Senador o mga opisyal ng pamahalaan. Pero binukod nila ang kasong laban sa akin dahil sa hangaring pahiyain ako at sirain ang aking pagkatao. Hinayaan nilang magka 20 hearings at 5 privilege speeches, technical working group 5, na mailadlad sa publiko.

Pangatlo – Banggitin na rin natin ang lahat ng tumestigo para patunayang ako ay walang sala. Lahat ng testigo sinabi yun. Hindi ba’t idiniklara akong wala kasalanan ng Ethics committee lalo na sa plunder at estafa charges sa akin noong Hulyo? Bakit ngayon merong mga bumabaligtad at binuhay na naman ang kaso? Ang ibig sabihin ba nun binabale-wala natin ang mga tumestigo? Wala pa namang nagsasabing may kasalanan ako maliban sa mga kalaban ko sa pagtakbo bilang Presidente.

Pang-apat ang paulit-ulit kong kinekuwestiyon:

Saan ka naman nakakita ng isang korte na naglilitis sa ‘yo na binubuo ng mga kalaban mo sa pulitika? Apat na taga-Liberal Party, dalawang taga-Puwersa ng Masa at dalawang Presidentiables lumalaban sa akin?

Gumawa na nga ng sariling patakaran sa paglilitis, pagkatapos ang “accusers” ay mga “judges” din? Other upright individuals would have inhibited themselves from the process.

Samakatuwid, bakit ako lalahok sa di-makatarungang prosesong ito, kung alam kong niluto naman ang laban?

Kung alam mong ikaw ang dehado, pagkakaisahan at na-desisyunang may sala, bago pa man magumpisa ang paglilitis, may punto pa bang puntahan ito?

Nililinaw ko–ang aking pananahimik ay hindi pagkaduwag.

Ito ay ang hindi pagkilala sa korteng ito.

Kung tinikom ko ang aking bibig nitong mga nakaraang linggo o buwan, ito ay dahil di ako madaldal na tao. Mahilig ako sa gawa, at di sa salita. Nasagot ko na ang lahat ng isyu noon pa sa lahat ng uri ng komunikasyon. I’ve done hundreds of interviews for TV, radio, at print. Sinagot ko na sa aming website na MannyVillar.com.ph, nagpalimbag ako ng mga pamphlets, nagpa-advertise din ako. Dinala ko na din ang napakaraming peryodista sa lokasyon upang mapaliwanag ang katotohanan.

My conscience is clear.

I have been publicly condemned and maligned by some of my colleagues by simply presenting statements of alleged indiscretions and without proof that I pocketed the funds for the road project. I have been pilloried with a lot of charges as a result of my declaration as a presidential candidate.

As I have stated on September 15, 2008, the first time that this issue was presented on the floor by a colleague and thus, I am saying it again: I have never stolen money from the public coffers and I do not intend to steal. Whatever station in life I am in right now, whatever I am earning now, is a product of hard work, sweat and industry.

Magpapayaman pa daw ako pag ako’y nanalo. Paano ko raw babawiin ang ginagastos ko sa kampanya? Bakit ko kailangang bawiin ang aking nagastos? Wala po sa isip ko yan dahil hindi naman negosyo ang pagiging pangulo. Kung gusto ko lang pong magpayaman, magnenegosyo na lang ako.

Simple lang ang pamilya ko. Simple lang ang aming pamumuhay. We do not need more than what we already have.

Sa aking mundong kinagisnan, sa Moriones Tondo, sa paggising ko nang hatinggabi para sumama sa aking Nanay sa bulungan sa Divisoria at Navotas… sa pagidlip sa makitid na bangko sa Divisoria pagkatapos magtinda ng hipon hanggang alas 6 ng umaga, nakita ko kung paano magtiis, magsikhay at magsikap ang mga katulad kong mahihirap. Ganun pa man, hindi nirerespeto ng ilang mayayaman ang mga katulad namin. Langit at lupang agwat ang aming kabuhayan.

Mahirap bang isipin at sikmurain na ang isang dating mahirap ay naghahangad mangarap sa pagkapangulo? Di ba pwedeng umahon at mangarap ang tulad namin? Mahirap lang ba ako kaya ako’y hinuhusgahan?

Mula sa pagkamusmos, marami akong karanasan nagpamulat sa kin sa katotohanan that life can be unfair. A child of privilege always gets the benefit of the doubt. A child of poverty hardly does.

Bigyan natin ng katahimikan ang Senado. Gawin natin ang dapat gawin para sa mahihirap. Para sa mga taong naghihintay.

Simula nang pumutok ang isyung ito, hanggang sa ngayon, natanggap ko na yata lahat ng masasakit na salita na pwedeng matanggap ng isang tao sa kanyang buhay. Tinawag ako ng maraming masakit na pangalan. Tinawag akong magnanakaw, duwag, oportunista, mahina, at marami pang iba.

Nagdaramdam ako. Masakit para sa kin na marinig ito, at maging sa aking pamilya, lalo pa’t nanggaling ito sa ilan kong kapwa mga mambabatas—ang mga kasama ko sa kamara, na pinagsilbihan ko rin naman bilang Senate president at tinuring kong pamilya at kaibigan.

Salungat sa iniisip ng ilan, hindi ko kailanman naging hangarin na bastusin, hatiin, at higit sa lahat sirain ang integridad ng institusyon ng Senado.

Pero uulitin ko na tila ang kasalanan ko sa mata ng ilan ay di ako pinanganak na mayaman. Wala akong kilalang apelyido o tanyag na kamaganak. Sa pagtuligsa sa akin, isa ang malinaw na opinion: ang opinion na porket nanggaling sa mahirap ang isang tao ay di pwedeng yumaman sa mabuti at marangal na paraan.

No one is above the law. Yun ang paniwala ko. Ngunit dito sa Senado, anong batas ang pinapairal? Kaninong kapakanan kundi sa mga katunggali sa pulitika?

I shall repeat what I’ve said so many times. I will be repeating this for the last time in this hall. Wala akong kasalan. Walang anomalya sa C5 project. Hindi ako nakinabang at lahat ito ay pulitika lamang. Ito ay kathang-isip ng mga ilan na ginagamit ang Senado para ako’y siraan.

Nakamtan ko na ang marami sa aking pangarap sa buhay. Ang tanging huling nais ko ay maiahon ang karamihan sa ating mga kababayan mula sa kahirapan. Matagal na silang naghihintay ng makakatulong sa kanila.

I seek the presidency now because I have a dream for our people – a dream of rescuing them from poverty and giving them a better future such as the future I have realized for myself and my family. Natapos ko na ang aking kahirapan bago pa ako naging pulitiko. Ngayon, sapat na ang napundar ko para sa kinabukasan ng aking pamilya. We have more than enough. Kung gusto kong yumaman pa, mananatili na lamang ako sa negosyo.

I do not want the majority of the Filipino people to always keep hoping and waiting for the next presidential candidate to save them. I seek the presidency as the culmination – not the beginning – of my life in public service. I have always strived to help as many people as I can. Panata kong ibalik sa mahihirap ang mga biyayang aking natanggap. Alam ko ang pakiramdam ng maging maliit at maging walang wala.

Naranasan ko na yan. Naranasan ko na ang magutom. Naranasan ko na ang mamatayan ng kapatid na hindi alam kung saan ka kukuha ng gamot dahil wala kang pera. Naranasan ko na tuwing magmamatrikula kami, nakatingin ako sa nanay ko na hindi ko alam kung saan kukuha ng pangmatrikula. Yan pong kahirapan, naranasan ko na po yan. Alam ko po ang pakiramdam na maging maliit at walang-wala, yung wala ka talagang tatakbuhan. Naranasan ko na po yan. Ayaw kong mangyari yan sa mga kabataan ngayon. yung mga darating na henerasyon hindi na dapat mangyari sa kanila yan. Dapat na pong tapusin yan.

Alam ko kung paano tapusin ang kahirapan. Nagawa ko ito sa aking sarili, nagawa ko para sa iba na akin nang natulungan at hangarin ko na gawin pa ito para sa mas nakakarami.

Ang pangarap kong ito ay di matutumbasan ng pera. Marami po naghihintay dito sa labas. Tayo po ay kakain pa rin tayo pagkatapos nito subalit ang mga mahihirap, pag sila’y nabigo na naman, marami po sa kanila hindi na kakain.

Maraming salamat sa inyo, aking mga kababayan, na tuloy na nagtitiwala sa akin sa gitna ng mga paratang ng kasinungalingan. Bagamat ganito ang nangyari, ako’y nananalig pa rin na mananaig ang katotohanan dito sa Senado at sa mahal nating bayan.

Inuulit ko sa mata ng Diyos at mata ng bayan, hindi po ako nagnakaw. Wala po akong balak magnakaw habang buhay. At yan lamang po ang aking maipapasa sa aking mga anak, yang kabutihang asal.

Ngayon ako ay nakikiisa. Nakikiisa ako sa lahat ng nangangarap at sa patuloy na nananalangin, sa mga mahihirap na nasa labas na nangangarap at nananalangin upang muli nang ngumiti ang langit sa ating bayan.