Manila – Former President and candidate Joseph Estrada added to the rising number of issues of alleged financial irregularities versus his rival candidate, the Nationalista Party’s Sen. Manuel Villar. Estrada, on Thursday alleged that Sen. Villar " had been using the overseas Filipino workers market to make money" in a press conference at the Partido ng Masa Pilipino headquarters.
Estrada claimed a real estate company owned by Villar, he named as Vista Land, were allegedly being used as tools in Villar’s alleged "marketing schemes." Estrada also questioned Villar’s sincerity in helping the OFWs. In the conference Estrada claimed "billions of pesos earned from these housing projects are being used in Villar’s campaign."
At the same press conference, re-electionist senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who replaced Villar as Senate President in the wake of a highway construction project scandal, added to Estrada’s statement. "Villar used his position to pressure the Philippine Stocks Exchange officials to jack up the value of his companies’ shares of stocks and violated some of its policies in the public offerings and listings of his companies’ shares," Enrile said in Filipino.
Radio Call in Survey: Estrada numbers rising nearly tied with Villar
Meanwhile, the Philippines oldest radio network the Manila Broadcasting Company or MBC’s-Radio Station DZRH daily survey result, conducted on April 15, 2010, the radio survey showed current front runner son of former President Cory Aquino in first place, Sen, Benigno Aquino III at 38.6%, while Sen. Villar-22.8%, a drop as Estrada rose to 21.2%, who gained along with Administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro who also rose to 11.3%.
Estrada and Teodoro’s numbers according to political analysts are rapidly gaining on Villar who, less than a month ago, had been in a virtual tie with front runner Aquino. But a series of scandals including an alleged release of a medical report, latter denied as a fraud, on psychological problems of another candidate have analyst say affected Villar’s campaign standing.
Estrada has set records in votes gained and his shortened stint as president, gaining victory in 1998 with over 60 per cent of the vote. Estrada also was the first ousted president to be convicted then pardoned by successor, current President Gloria Arroyo.
He is the oldest candidate in the field of nine currently seeking the presidency. While the Philippine constitution allows Presidents one term, a Supreme Court ruling a few months back allowed Estrada to seek office as his term had been shortened in a popular uprising on January 19th of 2001.
A survey by the Philippines Social Weather Station meanwhile done just over a month ago on March 19-22 surprised analysts with Estrada rising to second place.
"In Metro Manila, the survey scores were: Aquino 39%, Estrada 27%, Villar 20%, Teodoro 5%, Villanueva 4%, Gordon 2%, and De Los Reyes 1%. None of the March 19-22 sample" a SWS Press release itemized the March 19-22 survey.
Nationwide the same SWS survey of March 19-22 showed Villar second to Aquino by nine percentage points overall.
Estrada a former Mayor of the City of San Juan is popular among less affluent urban communities. Particularly in Metro Manila. DZRH is a Manila based radio station that is broadcast across the Philippines via relay stations.
Villar: "Baseless claim" denies wrong-doing says OFW project above board.
In a press statement, the Nacionalista Party’s Sen. Manny Villar denied the allegations of former president Joseph Estrada and Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, as "baseless", claiming Estrada and Enrile, "peddled lies and deceived the public regarding the propriety of the stock offering of his real estate company."
“Senator Villar is once again being tried publicly via the media by his political opponents. We challenge them to present documents if indeed they have any such credible documents to back their allegations,” Villar’s lawyer Nalen Rosero-Galang, who is chief legal officer for Villar campaign.
“We challenge them to file appropriate charges in courts and agencies against the Senator and his companies if indeed violations of laws were committed. Until that time, the public should know that this is clearly nothing but political mudslinging.” Atty. Rosero-Galang said the public offering of the shares of stocks of Vista Land & Lifescapes was done in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Regulation Code and the rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).
In the NP transcript released of Villar’s lawyers interview, “For the enlightenment of Mr. Estrada and his Honorable Enrile, the bulk of Vista Land shares, or 85 percent thereof, were taken up by foreign investors. So, how can they claim that Filipino investors were duped by Sen. Villar?” Adding that the public offering was duly passed upon and cleared by both the SEC and the PSE.
“There was full disclosure of all material information as required by law. There was an Offering Circular, which not only complied with Philippine legal requirements but also conformed to the international standards and practices,” Lawyer Rosero-Galang said in defense of her client.
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