Wealthy families ganging up on me, Villar

by Maila Ager (INQUIRER.net) 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100214-253177/Wealthy-families-ganging-up-on-me-Villar

HONG KONG – Senator Manny Villar has further intensified the debate in the presidential race by attacking the wealthy families of Aquino, Cojuangco, Araneta and Madrigal.

Speaking before the militant migrant workers here on Sunday, Villar lamented how the country was being run by very few wealthy families.

“Sabi ko nga, ang namumuno ng ating bansa, ay pareho parehong mga pangalan. Sila sila na lamang . Mga Madrigal, Araneta, Cojuangco and Aquino . Tingnan mo ang nangyari sa ating bansa (People running our country are the same, same family name, Madrigal, Araneta, Cojuangco and Aquino. Look what happened to our country),” he said.

His strongest rival, Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III belongs to the wealthy family of Cojuangco while another presidential contender, Senator Ma. Ana ‘Jamby” Madrigal, who has been Villar’s number one nemesis, comes from the Madrigal clan. Madrigal accused Villar of corruption for allegedly benefiting from the anomalous C-5 road extension project.

“Tunay ba nilang naiintidihan ang problema ng kahirapan? Walang masamang maging mayaman basta mahihirap ang nasa isipan mo at hindi ka nagpapanggap na mahirap. Mayron pang nangongolekta ng piso-piso ay may hacienda naman (Do they really understand the problem of poverty? There is nothing wrong being rich as long as you have the poor people in mind and you are not pretending to be poor. Someone is collecting P1 when in fact they have a hacienda),’ Villar said.

The senator was apparently referring to Aquino, who started a “piso-piso” fund raising to support his campaign.

Villar lamented how these wealthy people came together to attack him just because a person who was raised from poverty like him, would simply want to become president of the Philippines.

“They are trying to pin me down to cover up their inefficiency. They are not even instrumental for the construction of a barangay road, if you can’t help build a barangay road, why are you running for President?” he asked.

“Why are these families ganging up on me-the Madrigal, Araneta, Cojuangco, Aquino? Is it impossible for someone poor to get rich in an honest way?” he further said.

Villar said he was being attacked by people, who could not say a single thing about themselves.

“Normally, you will boast of your accomplishments but since you do not have any, might as well besmirch the reputation of your opponent,” he said.

The senator then proceeded criticizing those candidates who do not have the experience and ability to run the country as they simply rely on the good name or achievements of their parents or popularity of their relatives.

“If your parents are great, that doesn’t mean you are already great or you will be a great leader. You still have to prove yourself,” he said.