03/10/2010Original Story: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100310hed2.html
DAVAO CITY — Even as a military report directly tagged Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Manuel Villar Jr. as being the New People’s Army’s presidential bet, as well as that of his having paid “revolutionary” taxes to the communist armed group, the senator yesterday debunked the military intelligence reports that pointed to him as the presidential bet who paid illegal taxes for him to conduct campaign rallies in areas the leftists’ NPAs control.
This latest issue against him, Villar claimed, can only be part of a vilification campaign or black propaganda by his detractors.
“It could be just a list. There are a number of lists that they can come up with. I have not paid anyone. Why would I have to pay when I have in my senatorial slate our common friends,”he said, in reference to leftists Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Satur Ocampo and Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza who form part of his 12-man senatorial line-up.
“Why would I have to pay when we share a common vision, objective which is that of helping the poor?” he said, in defending himself to reporters during a press conference.
Villar said he is no longer surprised to hear such reports saying he has been taking criticisms and other forms of tirades from his political opponents almost on a daily basis.
“Every day, every morning, it’s like taking a different breakfast. This only goes to show that the elections are nearing and the competition is heating up, the reason they have been coming up with these black propagandas. Expect more lies to be thrown at you,” he said, without naming who the black propagandists as the list comes from the military intelligence agency.
Villar said he can only hope that voters would be intelligent enough to distinguish lies from truth and rely on the results of the surveys as a gauge as to whether such kind of gimmicky is proving to be effective.
Villar said he does not believe that any of the candidates would allow themselves to be influenced by insurgents into paying revolutionary taxes.
“In fairness to all of us, I don’t think there is any presidential candidate who is dealing with this kind of problem (payment to permit to campaign). We have not encountered any problem so far. We have been freely campaigning in various key cities,” he said.
Villar clarified that while there are some leftist candidates in the NP senatorial slate, it is they who are fighting to end poverty and for the protection of human rights, especially of the poor.
What Senator Villar is guilty of is propounding progressive ideas like agrarian reform, just wages, affordable health care, and better social services- advocacies which have led small factions in the military to equate them as subscription to beliefs of the far left. But these ideas are pushed by the Church as well so we take comfort in the fact that the senator is in good company,”said Villar’s spokesman, Gilbert Remulla.
“He also joins prominent people in our history- Ninoy Aquino included- who at one time have been accused of being communists. This foul and false leak about us paying the NPA for a campaign permit is the latest in the long train of lies hurled against Senator Villar. The AFP leadership should not allow rogue elements within their organization to paint us Red upon the behest of the Yellows or Greens or any other colors,”added Remulla. Angie M. Rosales
Original Story: http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/20100310hed2.html
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