VILLARROYO WOULD BE WORSE THAN GMA – LP

Bribery and corruption would mark the administration of Nacionalista bet Manuel Villar should he win the May 10 national elections, Liberal Party Director General Chito Gascon today warned the public.

Gascon said Villarroyo’s propensity to twist existing laws and to engage in under-the-table transactions for his personal and political advantage could make the Villarroyo administration similar to, if not worse than, the present government of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

He noted how Villarroyo had reportedly attempted to buy-off colleague Bagumbayan presidential bet Richard Gordon and rival former President Joseph Estrada by offering to reimburse all of their campaign expenses if they give up their bids in the May 10 presidential race.

He also cited reports that Villarroyo allegedly tried to bribe Gordon against supporting the Senate Committee of the Whole findings related to the C-5 road extension anomaly, where Villar has been accused of using his influence as then Senate President to divert the original road plan to pass through his real estate properties and to demand a higher compensation from the government.

Villarroyo had also been accused of facilitating the illegal conversion of prime rice lands in an Iloilo town to build the Savannah Subdivision. Villarroyo had allegedly made possible the construction of a road along Jibao-an in Pavia town, which will pass in front of Savannah subdivision in Brgy. Polo Maestra Vita in Oton town.

Farmers and landowners from Norzagaray, Bulacan have also accused Villarroyo of “technical land grabbing” for using their lands as mortgage by his companies by submitting dubious land titles.

Gascon said the latest proof to the NP’s penchant for illegal maneuverings was its submission of its fake coalition with the Nationalist People’s Coalition, an attempt to circumvent guidelines laid down by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the accreditation of political parties as the dominant minority party in this year’s elections.

He added: “Kung ngayon pa lang ay inaabuso na niya ang kanyang posisyon, ano pa kaya kung siya na ang pangulo ng ating bansa? Higit na magiging talamak ang korapsyon sa gobyerno sa ilalim ni Villarroyo (Now that he’s already abusing his position, what more if he becomes president of our country? Corruption will be more rampant under a Villaroyo government).”

Gascon remained confident the Filipino people have learned their lesson from the sufferings they have experienced brought about by rampant corruption in government. “Tiwala ako na hindi papayagan ng mamamayan na magpatuloy ang katilwalian sa gobyerno. Patuloy nating ipaglaban ang tapat na pamumuno na itinatayo ng Aquino-Roxas ticket (I’m sure that the people will not allow corruption in government to continue. We will wager on with the Aquino-Roxas ticket’s fight for a clean and honest government),” he said.

03-03-2010