Villar, Loren seal tandem

MANILA, Philippines - Senators Manuel Villar of the Nacionalista Party (NP) and Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) yesterday formally announced their teamup for the 2010 elections.

“Today, I can face the Filipino people and say that my choice for vice president was not motivated by political accommodation but by a common vision for the country,” Villar told a crowd of supporters at the historic Laurel House in Mandaluyong City.

The announcement ended months of speculation over Villar’s running mate.

He formally introduced Legarda as a candidate who will work for the poor and the environment.

Legarda, for her part, said her pairing up with Villar would not mean she would be abandoning the NPC.

Legarda said she would still remain in the NPC but would support Villar and the NP since they share the same platform of governance.

She said NPC founder Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. has allowed her to find a good and credible presidential candidate whom she would support.

“We share the same vision of a nation where there is lasting peace and sustained Manny Villar and the Nacionalista Party because I believe our partnership will ensure a new beginning and a better future for all Filipinos,” she said.

Villar added their partnership was not borne out of popularity or any political consideration.

“This tandem was not made overnight. This tandem was made out of the common desire to help uplift the Filipinos from poverty, to protect the environment, uplift the welfare of overseas Filipino workers, promote equality for Muslim brothers and sisters, attain peace in Mindanao and to work for good governance and transparency in the government,” he said.

Villar and Legarda made the formal declaration amid a backdrop of questions surrounding their different political stands in recent years.

Legarda was among the 14 senators who voted to install Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile as Senate president, replacing Villar, exactly a year ago.

Villar was forced to step down amid the accusations that he used his power to make a double insertion in the 2008 national budget to finance the C-5 road extension project that would benefit the housing projects in Las Piñas and Parañaque City that he owns.

Legarda had joined Senators Panfilo Lacson and Jamby Madrigal in calling for the investigation of Villar over the C-5 Road controversy.

She later explained that move was part of her function as a lawmaker and member of the Senate. The senator stressed she had no regrets about it.

“That was my position and this is the Senate, this is democracy and the Senate as an institution,” Legarda said.

“If there were criticisms and harsh words I made against Senator Villar, these are the usual questions in the Senate hearings,” she said.  

Legarda also defended her earlier criticisms against Villar, accusing the senator of spending millions to run political advertisements in preparation for seeking the presidency.

“Our team up here, as I have said, is not based on political expediency or just assuming a position of power for the sake of power itself,” she stressed.

Like Clinton against Obama

Legarda even likened her situation to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US President Barack Obama during their runoff in the selection of the presidential candidate.

“Secretary Clinton and US President Obama, during the primaries, had barely speaking words for each other. And now she is the more effective secretary of state supporting (Obama’s) administration,” Legarda said.

Legarda, who called Villar “my president” during the gathering, said there is a need to set aside issues now that they have agreed on a common platform and vision to help the Filipino people.

Legarda is now all praises for Villar, whom she described as being circumspect on the issues despite the criticisms he had been getting from his colleagues in the past. 

“I am in all admiration for his character that he does not bear grudge against anyone,” Legarda declared during the press conference after the official declaration.

Legarda stressed she and Villar have both shared concerns for good governance.

“We share the same goal to build a strong and vibrant national economy competitive in a global market, yet ensuring an equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities for all Filipinos,” Legarda said.

Legarda said she shared the humble beginnings of Villar, the son of market vendors in the slum district of Tondo, Manila while she was the daughter of a middle class couple in the perennially flooded town of Malabon.

Villar stepped in quickly and defended Legarda from criticisms.

Villar said he has no problem with the past political differences between him and Legarda, remarking these even “spice up” their relationship. 

Villar went on to praise Legarda for her environmental concerns.

Roxas wishes Loren luck

Sen. Mar Roxas welcomed yesterday the entry of Legarda in the vice presidential contest.

“This move by Senator Loren Legarda is an expected political development. Finally the senator found a home with Senator Villar,” said Roxas, who will be the Liberal Party’s vice presidential bet next year.

“We can expect the vice presidential race to be very interesting,” added Roxas, who is the front-runner in recent surveys among vice presidential candidates conducted by reputable polling organizations.

“I believe in the capability of the Filipino people to choose who is the most trustworthy and best qualified among the candidates. I know this election will be anchored on who has the strongest platform,” the senator said.

Malacañang, on the other hand, said the tandem of Villar and Legarda would pose a serious threat to the already divided opposition.

“We wish them well now. They are more a threat to the rest of the opposition than the administration,” Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Gabriel Claudio said.

He said Villar and Legarda as standard-bearers of the NP ticket would further divide the opposition against the lone administration candidate.

Claudio though admitted Villar-Legarda is “a formidable team-up.”

“The personal chemistry and geographical complementarity are there,” he said.

For the United Opposition, Legarda’s teaming up with Villar would make the vice presidential race in 2010 “very interesting.”

Lito Anzures, spokesman of UNO’s vice presidential candidate Jejomar Binay, said the recent results of the Pulse Area survey pointed to the Makati mayor as the third preferable choice at 13 percent.

“We began at near zero preference and the climb has been steady. As the trend continues, it should be a very interesting fight,” Anzures said.

Binay is the running mate of former President Joseph Estrada under the UNO. – With Paolo Romero, Jose Rodel Clapano