ELECTION WATCH: Manny Villar's camp denies offering VP or senatorial slot to Willie Revillame
If Willie Revillame agrees to be Sen. Manny Villar's running mate, he'd have to run against Sen. Mar Roxas, who recently announced that he will run in the 2010 elections as Sen. Noynoy Aquino's running mate.
Roxas previously guested in Willie's noontime show
Wowowee to propose marriage to Korina Sanchez.
The Nacionalista Party (NP) has denied reports that it had asked TV host Willie Revillame to be the running mate of its standard bearer, Sen. Manny Villar, for the 2010 elections.
In a press conference held yesterday, September 22, in the Senate, NP spokespersons Gilbert Remulla and Adel Tamano said the party had not even discussed the tandem's possibility.
Tamano even joked that Willie, who returned to his noontime show
Wowowee last Monday, Sept. 21, after more than a month's absence, could only run in a marathon, and not in a race to the two highest positions in the land.
Remulla also said in GMA-7's morning show
Unang Hirit last Monday that Sen. Villar never made the alleged VP proposal to Willie. Remulla also denied that their party is offering Willie even a senatorial slot.
"Not once na pinag-usapan 'yan. Kaya sa lahat ng nagtsitsismis diyan, wala pong katotohanan 'yon," he said.
But previous reports stated that Villar is willing to reserve a slot for Willie if he chooses to run for senator.
"Oo, naman, very qualified naman si Willie, wala naman akong nakikitang problema kay Willie. Yun ay isang bagay na dapat niyang pag-isipan," Villar said in a press conference last month.
Sen. Villar and Willie's close alliance may have roots in their previous business deals. The TV host's new 500-to-600-million-peso Wil Theater Mall, for instance, is allegedly a co-venture with the senator, who owns several companies involved in real estate.
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE... Talks of the rumored political teamup started flying last August 23 in Davao City, after Villar appeared onstage together with Willie, who was performing in a concert for the Kadayawan Festival.
The short, rain-drenched concert titled "Wowowillie" was sponsored by the senator. At 8 p.m., the sound system broke down due to the inclement weather, and the concert had to be cancelled.
Sen. Villar, who was dripping wet, addressed the crowd composed of an estimated 120,000 Davaoeños.
"Nagpapasalamat kami sa mainit na pagtanggap ng Davaoeños sa amin. Humihingi rin kami ng paumanhin sa pagkansela ng show ni Willie dahil nakakaawa naman po ang mga nanonood na basang-basa na ng ulan," Sen. Villar apologized for the concert's cancellation.
The senator previously appeared on the March 28 episode of
Wowowee, accompanying his daughter Camille, who was a contestant in one of the show's segments. He also told Willie and the audience what he thinks are the solutions needed to help Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).
"Kailangan malutas natin ang problema ng kahirapan, para yung ating mga OFW naman ay matulungan natin nang husto at sa mga darating na panahon, maganda rin naman na makabalik sila dito na may trabaho, at may pagkakataon," Sen. Villar said.
Sen. Villar appeared in the noontime show for the second time last July 25, where he gave away six house-and-lot packages to OFW contestants.
"POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENT." Last Sept. 19, a Tweet in the PEP Scoopbox reported that Willie would have made public his political plans on his return on
Wowowee last Monday.
The tweet stated, "Monday's a big day for WILLIE. First, he'll make his
Wowowee comeback. Second, he'll make a big announcement, said our source......and what's the big announcement gonna be about? Source whispered to PEP: 'Tatakbo siya as Vice President.' And his running mate? Willie's running mate will be Manny Villar."
But when the press present in the show's ABS-CBN studio last Monday asked him about it, Willie just joked, "Many people are asking if I will run, so I'll say this... I will run." Then he mimed a jogging stance before going back to hosting.
Willie kept mum on the rumors during the show, although he thanked Sen. Villar on air for visiting him at his house during his "suspension."
"Si Senator Villar po ang pumunta sa bahay ko nang walang kaabog-abog. Ibig kong sabihin, hindi naman kami ganun ka-close, pero pinuntahan niya ako. Nagulat ako sa kanya. Senator Villar, saludo ako sa 'yo," Willie said.
The
Wowowee host also acknowledged the senator's son, Mark Villar, who was present in the studio.
"Ayan po ang anak ni Senator Villar. Walang kampanya, pero nandito siya!" the host said, laughing.
"At ia-announce ko na po ngayon, nagpaalam na ako... Sa 2010 po... Hanggang November na lang bago mag-file, okay. Mga Kapamilya, mga kababayan... babalik kami!" Willie teased.
Willie also refused to grant interviews.
Wowowee's executive producer, however, said Willie will schedule a press conference so he could answer questions on his political plans.
In a text message he sent on Tuesday to a daily broadsheet, he said, "Pinag-aaralan ko pa at pinag-iisipan."
Goodluck kanatong tanan kung mao man gani
bwahahahaha
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