By Efren L. Danao Senior Reporter

TAGAYTAY CITY: Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar, in an apparent jab at Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd, said on Friday that character and integrity are earned, not inherited.

“We should be able to demonstrate the traits that we claim we have or have inherited, otherwise these would be just an empty claim or promise,” he told the Top-Level Management Conference of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas at the Tall Vista Hotel here.

Without naming Aquino, Villar said that one’s performance rather than filial relations should determine whether one is capable of achieving what is promised. Leaders of Aquino have been pointing out that he is the only son of late President Corazon “Cory” Aquino and martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and that he is not expected to throw away such precious legacy.

The president of the Nacionalista Party, he and Aquino of the Liberal Party are seen as the main rivals in the 2010 presidential elections based on surveys.

Villar said that one aspiring for the presidency should be able to stand on his own rather than on his inheritance.

“I am not my mother. I am not my father. I am Manuel Villar and what you see is what you get,” he added.

Villar did not endorse any investigation of the alleged overpricing of the Hacienda Luisita portion purchased for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project. Aquino’s relatives are managing Hacienda Luisita.

“If he [Aquino] committed no wrongdoing, then he should explain to the people,” was all he said.
Villar professed his readiness to become the next president, saying he is fully prepared for it.

He said that he came from a poor family but accumulated wealth through patience and hard work.

According to him, he had demonstrated his leadership and competence in managing his firms and in becoming the speaker of the House and Senate president.

“I have dreams for the country and these dreams could be achieved only if I become president,” he stressed.

Villar said that should he become successor to President Gloria Arroyo, he would make sure that no Filipino would die of sickness without getting medical services.

“I have dreams of being the person who would stop our country’s downward slide. I will prevent Filipinos from going abroad just to get a job,” he added.

Villar called for the strengthening of the competitive spirit of the Filipinos.

“Outstanding schools should be given more buildings and equipment. Outstanding local governments should be given more projects. Even officials involved in revenue collection should have competition,” he said.

Villar cited the need to enhance tax collection effort to sustain economic development.

“The collection effort during the time of President [Fidel] Ramos was 17 percent of the gross domestic product [GDP]. Then, it went down to 14 percent and 13 percent. At 13 percent, we lost P300 billion, which is almost equivalent to our budget deficit,” he explained.

Villar admitted that even if he became president, state borrowing would continue.

“Budget deficit would not reduced overnight but if our economy will grow continuously, then the ratio of debt to GDP will go down,” he said. GDP is the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year.

Villar said that he had chosen his running mate but he would not make any announcement until next week.

He is the only major presidential wannabe without any declared running mate. Aquino has Sen. Manuel Roxas 2nd, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats has actor Edu Manzano and former President Joseph Estrada of the Partido ng Masang Pilipino has Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

“The contest for vice president will be very exciting. Those [other] vice presidential candidates are all good, but the vice president of Manny Villar is the best,” he said during the conference here.

While Villar refused to identify his running mate, he gave hints that this person is a senator. That was a virtual giveaway that it would be Sen. Loren Legarda of the Nationalist People’s Coalition. Legarda is the only senator who has declared her vice presidential aspirations. Sen. Francis Escudero, who still has to announce whether he would run for president or vice president, has discounted the possibility of becoming Villar’s running mate.

Villar said that the Nacionalista Party leaders would make a full announcement of party-backed candidates for vice president and senators next week.

“We already have a complete ticket but I can’t reveal their names yet,” he added.