‘Politically motivated’ does not acquit a criminal
By William M. Esposo (The Philippine Star)
Personal or political motivation does not and cannot justify the junking of charges when there is strong evidence and probable cause of wrong doing. If Villar’s tack on the C-5 issue is to become the norm for dispensing justice, all Marlene Aguilar, mother of road rage murder suspect Jason Ivler, has to do is say that the arresting NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) agents hated her son.
If Villar’s use of personal and political motivation is to become a new legal basis for escaping accountability, the same excuse can used by Ben Abalos for the ZTE scandal, by Jocjoc Bolante for the Fertilizer Scam, by Madame Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for all the grievous sins she committed against the Filipino people.
So what if political motivation or personal motivation made somebody present a case of plunder, murder or rape against another person. If there was indeed a case of plunder, murder or rape — it matters not if what brought it out into the open was political or personal motivation. What matters is that justice is served and the criminal is prosecuted.
And yet, from his own mouth, Manny Villar openly espoused this excuse to escape accountability for the C-5 issue with all its 900 pages of documents that supported the Senate Majority Report. Not only was his defense totally inane and irrelevant, he did not even have the guts to face interpellation.
The most pathetic sight in that sorry episode in the Senate was the phalanx of defenders of Manny Villar that echoed the twisted logic that was being passed off as legitimate defense. The most prominent of Villar’s defenders in the Senate may not have realized the political fallout they suffered for defending what many perceive as corruption and for instigating a session boycott just to protect a suspect.
Already, Villar’s obscene election spending alarms a lot of people. Last Thursday, Sonia Roco expressed that on an ABS-CBN TV Patrol interview in Taguig. Sonia Roco asked how Villar will recoup the billions that he is spending to try to win the 2010 presidency. Sonia Roco was fearful of the expected return on investment, especially since Villar is a businessman.
A friend who is familiar with Villar’s real estate business track record mentioned that Villar is used to getting a 500 times return on investment. He would buy raw land at P40 per square meter, get the government to build a major road to go through the property and then resells the lots for at least P2, 000 per square meter. Going by that yardstick, if Villar spends P10 billion to win the 2010 presidential election — a P5 trillion return on investment is in order.
In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Ces Drilon on the issue of his immense level of advertising spending, Villar claimed that he does not need to recoup all that money and that he is just out to serve the people. If that was Gawad Kalinga’s Tony Meloto talking and if he was not spending his own money — yes we can believe that. Tony Meloto has a long track record of giving and sharing without counting the cost, without seeking rest or reward.
But Manny Villar is not Tony Meloto. Manny Villar is a businessman and a businessman thinks in terms of return on investment and not in terms of psychic rewards and spiritual sanctification.
"I am determined to continue the fight started by my father and my mother to see
that democracy takes root and is strengthened in our country. This cannot happen
in a government that serves the interest of the powerful few. We must strengthen
the institutions of government so that they truly serve the interests of our people."
veida jen yarcia
9 Feb, 2010
Villar is a coward, afraid of facing the reality of his wicked deeds, he cover his lies by helping the poor, he needed hypocrisy as a means to achieve his goals. At the present moment he depends on his money to bribe the silence needed to shut down the C-5 case.
If you loved the poor, your obligation is to set aside your personal interest to the extent of forgetting yourself for the good of the people. How does it feel, when your table is full of delicious foods, to think you had deprived the FILIPINOS OF A BETTER LIFE DUE TO CORRUPTION.
How doe it feel when you know the money belongs to the people and yet you stole it for your own benefits.
Do you still have a conscience?
Where is your heart?
People are too tired from lies, oppression, what else do you want to rob?
Do you understand that because of corruption you deprive the means of the people to integrate their lives.
You rob their happiness, you destroyed their dreams, and above all you betrayed the people.
We thank God, we have hope because we know NOYNOY AQUINO is a victor.
he will be the next President voted by the people, and if you cheat the result we the people of this republic will appoint him as the “People’s President”, you will see that the people once more nationwide will come out to shout for NOynoy’s victory.
STOP CHEATING IF YOU LOVE THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
lenlen
10 Feb, 2010
The SCOW report is very clear plus the 900 pcs. of evidences.Villar continue to denies his wrong doings.If the senate is helpless to take deciplinary action against HIM, my question is WHO CAN stop Villar and HOW to stop him doing again and again stealing OUR MONEY.
As ordinary citizen,my answer is, NOT TO PUT HIM in power.
Alyssa
10 Feb, 2010
I only wish for the better if not the best for our country. It’s so scary to think that Villar is near the point of winning the race for the office. If this happen, I can only weep for the Philippines. Just like how Jesus weep for the old Jerusalem during His time. If filipinos will not unite to “stop” from electing a corrupt politicians into office, then our beloved Philippines will remain doom…