Villar : I did no wrong so why should I ask him for help ?

Senator Manny Villar today said he did not approach Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for help on the C-5 road controversy.

"Wala akong hininging tulong at walang ibinigay. No help was asked and none was given, "Villar said.

Villar also belied Enrile's claim in a radio interview this morning that he offered to help Enrile with "anything" during one of their meetings about the C-5 road controversy.

Villar said he saw no need to ask help from Enrile because " I was confident that the documents, the records, the witnesses, and the rules will prove that the C-5 road project was not double-funded, overpriced or rerouted."

"Bakit ako hihingi ng tulong e hindi naman ako guilty at wala naman akong ginawang masama ? Lahat ng dokumentong sinubmit at lahat ng nag-testify sa Senado yan ang sinabi, " he said.

"But looking back, I thought I was dealing with honorable men who would view things fair and impartially. Nagkamali pala ako," Villar said, adding that he was "hurt" by Enrile's "false story."

He said the Senate hearing on C-5 controversy was "conceived in malice and was meant to embarrass me so I will not be a factor in these elections."

"Nagsimula ito ng umakyat ako sa surveys. Nang gumaganda ratings ko, pumapangit naman ang mga atake nila sa akin ," Villar said referring to his steady climb in the surveys, with a scant eight points separating him and frontrunner Sen. Noynoy Aquino of Liberal Party per one recent poll.

"Tumatakbo ako ng maayos, kaya eto, pinapatid nila ako. At labing-dalawang tao ang tumitisod sa akin, "Villar said . Since the C-5 controversy erupted, Villar admitted he had countless meetings and encounters with Enrile "because I made it a point to greet him and say a few words to him , whether in the session hall or committee rooms or elevator."

"Sa akin naman kasi walang masamang tinapay. I have always been civil to my colleagues , even if we are on opposing sides in an election. But in these meetings with him, I can't remember offering to help him with anything in exchange for him helping me," he said.