LOS ANGELES—For the past 20 years, Philippine Senator Manny Villar has spent the holidays with his family in their Glendale, CA home. Normally, he would stay for two weeks, sometimes a month.
But next year, Villar might not vacation in his Glendale home. He said he’d be too busy campaigning to be the next president of the Philippines.
Villar made his intentions known to a small group of prominent Fil-Ams last Jan. 7 that, indeed, he will run for the presidency in the 2010 Philippine general election.
"If there will be a presidential election under the current rules I will run," said Villar. "It’s still 15 months away. Right now, I am in a position to run."
Villar maintained his stance that he’s unsure if there will be a presidential election in 2010 since many of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s supporters are trying to pass legislation to change the democratic government to a parliamentary in order to continue her reign in power, he said.
However, most Philippine political pundits don’t believe that that would ever occur.
So Villar’s presidential candidacy is not a question of "if" but "when"—as in when he will formally make that strong push for the presidency.
Villar joins other potential candidates—current Philippine Vice President Noli De Castro, Senator Loren Legarda, Makati City Mayor Jojo Binay, among others as the heir to President Arroyo.
Current informal public opinion polls have Villar, De Castro and Legarda among the top three serious contenders as the next president of the Philippines. Villar said that his popularity might have already cost him. The savvy businessman and former Speaker of the House and Senate President was relieved of his senate position most recently.
Another potential presidential candidate is Sen. Ping Lacson, who has not officially declared his candidacy, accused Villar for alleged double appropriations regarding the C-5 Road Extension Project. Lacson alleged Villar misused his position as senate president and inserted two 200-million peso budget allocations for the road project. Villar called the accusations against him "absurd."
"I have explained that already," said Villar to the Asian Journal. "The absurdity of that all is, no, it’s not true. It was just a technique, a tool used to oust me [from the Senate Presidency]."
Villar said despite being ousted as senate president, he’s still the most qualified for the job as president. "I’m the only Filipino politician who has served as Speaker of the House and Senate President since before World War II…It sounds self-serving, yes, but looking at the other two [presidential candidates] they were broadcasters," he said taking a shot at former ABS-CBN broadcasters turned Senator Legarda, and VP De Castro. "The presidency requires a lot more experience than that."
"I have my own way," he added. "That’s why I’m running. It can be done. It can be done. I just feel the past presidents were not prepared for the job. I think Arroyo was not prepared for the job, Cory Aquino was not prepared. We’ve had too many presidents clearly unprepared because of our system of election being based purely on popularity."
He said that he’s already thinking of ways to solve some of the Philippines problems but did not want to elaborate on his approach only saying that it is leaning towards the economy.
"It’s centered around poverty," he said. "I really feel that each of us [potential candidates] have their own unique formula and approach to address the country’s problems, and I just happen to think that my approach is the correct one. I could be wrong but this is how I feel."
Villar said that his business and political career has been volatile, full of ups and downs. He has built up a billion dollar business, lost it during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, re-built up his wealth and served in the two most important positions in Philippine congress.
He said that he doesn’t know what’s going to happen in 2010, whether or not he will be elected as President.
"Well, it’s hard to say," he said. "Whether I’d be able to make it or not I cannot say 100 percent. Relative to the other candidates, I feel I’m the best."
( Published on January 10, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. A1 )
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