“Fight fire with smoke. And mirrors. And a lot of spit.” – from “The Firefighter’s Manual of Politics” by Philip Gilmore
I dreamed that I interviewed Sen. Manny Villar on the morning after his privilege speech.
“Good morning, Senator.”
“Good morning… Coffee?”
“No thank you sir, but thank you for granting this interview. May we start with your priv…
“Hindi ako duwag.” (I am not a coward).”
“… your privilege speech …
“Walang makapagsasabi na hindi ako sumagot sa mga paratang sa Senado (No one can say I did not answer the charges made by my fellow senators).”
“… but, you ran off bef…
“Nasagot ko na ang lahat ng isyu noon pa sa lahat ng uri ng komunikasyon (I have answered all the issues a long time ago, through all means of communications) .”
“… before the interpel…
“I’ve done hundreds of interviews for TV, radio, (and) print.”
“Nagsalita na ako sa daang-daang mga forums ipinapaliwanag itong C-5 issue.(I have explained the C-5 issue in hundreds of forums.)”
“Butwhydyourunawayfrominterperllation?” I blurted out.
“What?”
“Why did you run away from interpellation?”
“Sinagot ko na sa aming website na MannyVillar. com.ph.” (I already answered the issue in my website).”
“… but a website is not the Sen…”
“We printed tens of thousands of pamphlets explaining the C-5 controversy.”
“Nag-advertise kami sa aking hangarin na maipaliwanag sa tao ito diretso. (We advertised, I wanted to explain the issue directly to the people).
“Dinala ko na din ang napakaraming peryodista sa lokasyon upang mapaliwanag ang katotohanan (I have also invited so many press people to the location to enlighten them on the truth).”
“WhydyougoforumshoppininsteadofacingyouraccusersindSenate?”
“What?”
“Why did you go forum shopping instead of facing your accusers in the Senate hearings, were you afraid of testifying under oath?”
“Ako’y dating mahirap; di ko ikinahihiya ang aking pinagmulan (I used to be poor; I’m not ashamed of my humble beginnings).”
“Natatandaan ko pa noon, isang banig lang kami siyam, isang kulambo (I still remember, we were nine kids sleeping in one mat under one mosquito net).”
“But Senator Vi…
“Sa murang edad, nalaman ko agad na di ako kakain kung di ito pagpapawisan (I learned at a very young age that there are no free lunches).”
“…llarrrrrrrrr…”
“Wala akong minanang yaman. Hindi ako haciendero (I did not inherit riches. I am not landed gentry).”
“Wala akong kilalang apelyido o tanyag na kamaganak (I don’t have a well-known surname or a famous relative).”
“Sir, the documentary evid…”
“Nililinaw ko–ang aking pananahimik ay hindi pagkaduwag (I’m making it clear, my silence is not from cowardice).”
“Kung tinikom ko ang aking bibig nitong mga nakaraang linggo o buwan, ito ay dahil di ako madaldal na tao (If I’ve kept my mouth shut these past weeks or months, it is because I’m not a talkative man).”
“Didn’tyoujustsayyougavehundredsofinterviewsspokeathundredsofforums?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you just say that you gave hundreds of interviews and spoke at hundreds of forums?”
“Pero uulitin ko na tila ang kasalanan ko sa mata ng ilan ay di ako pinanganak na mayaman (But I will repeat that perhaps my sin in the eyes of some is that I was not born rich)”.
“Mahirap lang ba ako kaya ako’y hinuhusgahan? (Am I being persecuted because I’m poor?)”
“Aren’t you the richest member of the Senate?”
“I can explain my wealth. Alam ko kung paano tapusin ang kahirapan (I know how to end poverty).”
“Great! So, how exactly did you end your poverty?”
”Look a bird!”
*Sen. Villar’s responses are direct quotes from the privilege speech he delivered last week, except for his first and last sentences.
Popularity: 3% [?]
“Great! So, how exactly did you end your poverty?”
MB does not ask a question that he doesn’t know the answer. Were you not telling us about the 3Cs? Cynthia Aguilar, C & P Homes, and Capitol Bank…
Just prove it!
so, what’s wrong with his “answers”? are they false? insolent questions deserve insolent replies, or no answer at all.
i agree. he should have just faced his accusers then.
the key issue, which he didnt really answer well in his speech, is what kind of involvement he had in molding the DPWH’s plan re C5.
from monsod’s article, villar instigated it.
villar denied it, but monsod says there are dpwh documents that stipulates what she said.
one of them is wrong. it should be easy to determine which one.
this is the key issue — he violated the constitutional provision clearly if he used his position/influence to make the dpwh build a road. if this was an independent plan by the dpwh, then there is no violation.
ironically, in the blogwatch podcast, he mentioned that the way govt can build infra with less budget burden is via BOT. the MCTEP was a BOT project! hahaha… the sweet irony… i wonder if he realizes it…
If he recently said it and also in 2007…
Joe Taruc interviews Manny Villar:
Is he being consistent on his stand re: BOT???
—–
What is BOT Scheme and What Did We Learn from the NBN Deal and the C-5 Project Scandal?
i wish we had a media show that put together incongruous statements by politicians, like the dailyshow in the US. that would be so much fun!
GabbyD,
I agree but rather think that Jon Stewart in the US would be on the sanctioned hit list of journalists, for even hilarious fake news is dangerous to those bent cheating.
Saturday night live, Philippines . . . that would be good, too. I can imagine the caricatures of Villar, Noynoy and sis Kris, and Ms. Arroyo. Or Teodoro and his lost rubber boats. ahahahahahahahaha They make such great subjects, eh?
Joe
another funny story about villar…
if you listen to that first question on blogwatch, the interviewers asks what specific programs he was planning to do.
he ignored the question (!), saying programs are easy to hatch when u get there. then he proceeded to describe, in general terms, what people should look for in a presidential candidate.
i started to lol at his skill… i almost didnt notice it at first!
amazing, how he could just disregard the question, and go on a long speech like that! plus, his general description isnt really a general description at all — he was obviously alluding to himself!
since he’s not stupid, he dodged the question intentionally. that to me, is not funny at all. presidents should answer questions as directly as possible, especially such a basic question as the interviewer was asking…
simple lang, villar is afraid of the SENATE. He has to face documents. He uses…no need for documents just talk n talk…HE HAS NO DOCUMENTS TO PROVE HE IS NOT GUILTY.
simple lang, villar is afraid of the SENATE. He has to face documents. He useS THE MEDIA….no need for documents just talk n talk…HE HAS NO DOCUMENTS TO PROVE HE IS NOT GUILTY.
Gloria skips Gibo party, was in Laguna, so was Villar
I will not run?
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100210-252310/Aquino-I-will-redistribute-Hacienda-Luisita-in-5-years
Mr. Villar is good in sidestepping issues.