Loren Legarda The sordid description was supposed to refer to the votes of the 12 senators who cleared Sen. Manny Villar wrongdoing in the C-5 road extension project but Senator Jamby Villar zeroed in on colleague Loren Legarda who announced today her team-up with Villar for the 2010 elections.
“I congratulate Mr. Villar for his fantastic lobbying in turning someone like Senator [Loren] Legarda, who was rabidly against him into his girl Friday. As they say, Manny talks and money talk louder,” said Madrigal in a statement sent from Europe.
Added Madrigal: “I will not subscribe to political prostitution when the country’s interest is at stake. Public service is not a numbers game.”
Legarda was among the 12 senators (Aquilino Pimentel, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Gregoriio Honasan, Joker Arroyo, Miriam Santiago, Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan and Villar) who signed the resolution, expressing the sense of the Senate to dismiss the complaint and clear Villar of alleged acts of disorderly behavior.
The signing by Legarda of the resolution was a complete turnabout because she had supported the Senate investigation into the controversy.
Legarda also voted for the ouster of Villar as senate president. Yesterday, she said, ““In this afternoon, on this glorious afternoon, I cast my lot with Manny Villar. I believe our partnership will ensure a new beginning for all the Filipino people.”
Asked about reports that Villar must have given her the amount of P300 million to P500 million that she asked but failed to get from Nationalist People’s Coalition colleague Sen. Francis Escudero before he bolted the party, Legarda said her choice of Villar was based on “common platforms.”
“We believe we can make a difference in the lives of Filipinos. That is why today, in declaring my intention to vie for vice presidency in May 2010, I offer myself to the Filipino people as other half to the tandem that seeks a new beginning for the Filipino nation,” Legarda said.
Legarda who belongs to the Nationalist People’s Coalition made the announcement at Nacionalista Party’s headquarters, the old Laurel house in Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong.
For his part, Villar said the partnership was not politics-driven but was motivated by “a common vision for the country.”
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