Finding that he no longer had the support of his colleagues in the Philippine Senate, Senator Manuel B. Villar recently tendered his resignation as President of the Philippine Senate. He was succeeded by Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, former cabinet member during the term of former President Ferdinand Marcos.
Before his resignation, Villar has declared his intention to run for president of the Philippines in the 2010 national elections. At the time of his public declaration, he was considered as one the most popular candidate for the presidency.Some opinion surveys disclosed that if elections were held at the time of his declaration, he would be a sure winner.
Realizing Villar’s popularity as a potential presidential contender, some of his colleagues in the senate who are also eyeing the presidency have asked the senate blue ribbon committee to investigate Villar’ possible involvement in graft and corruption for having used his influence in the release of public funds to benefit his vast property holdings.
The subject funds were used to build right of way roads that would traverse his properties thereby converting them into instant prime lands. Villar is the nation’s richest politician and owner of vast tracks of land located all over the country for future land development.
The issue of graft and corruption hurled mostly by some of his colleagues in the senate who are themselves eyeing the presidency, has greatly diminished Villar’s popularity as president of the senate. Villar must have left the senate presidency with a heavy heart because he was never involved in any controversy involving misuse of government funds.
He has managed to keep his hands clean even during his incumbency as congressman from Las Pinas and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Villar said that the tenure of the senate president depends on the numbers supporting him. In this case he thinks that he no longer has that support. “I’ve been informed this afternoon that I no longer have the support of the majority members. I now therefore tender my resignation” he was quoted to have said before announcing his resignation.
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