MANILA, Philippines – Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manny Villar has shot back at his closest rival Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, accusing the latter of having the backing of Malacaņang.
Villar also challenged Aquino to name the people or groups funding the latter's campaign to see who really has the support of the Arroyo administration.
“Where is he getting his money? Is this the fruit of their Gloria-Aquino collusion?” Villar said.
Villar said Aquino has already spent close to P500 million for his campaign ads alone, urging the LP standard-bearer to lay down his cards this early and do a proper accounting. As of March 21, Aquino only had 14 minutes of airtime left in ABS-CBN and 22.5 minutes in GMA 7.
Villar reiterated that he has been spending his own money for the presidential campaign and stressed that he is not beholden to anyone.
"I am beholden to no one but myself because I am spending my own money. Can Senator Aquino say the same thing? If it’s not his money, then who are the people funding him?” Villar said.
“He (Aquino) has the connections, not me. There are also some LP members employed by President Arroyo. Maybe their propaganda is to point at me as being the secret candidate ng Malacaņang because they are hiding something,” Villar added. - By Dennis Carcamo (Philstar News Service,
Philippine News for the Filipino Global Community)