Press Release
April 14, 2010

On Albay Gov. Salceda's defection to LP
Villar: I'm vindicated

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar sees as a 'vindication' the defection of known administration ally Albay Gov. Joey Salceda to the Liberal Party (LP).

According to Villar, as it is, there are already more people from President Arroyo's camp who are in the LP camp and vice-versa. Many of LP standard-bearer Noynoy Aquino's relatives also hold key posts in Arroyo's cabinet.

Thus, he said, the entry of Salceda to Aquino's camp is a natural progression. Salceda is President Arroyo's chief economic adviser.

"Itong paglipat ni Governor Salceda ay para itong vindication sa amin at ito ang pinakamaganda at pinakamalakas na pruweba na kung meron tayong dapat paghinalaan, ito ay ang relasyon nina Pangulong Arroyo at Noynoy Aquino.

[The defection of Gov. Salceda is a vindication for us (NP) and this is the best and strongest proof that if we were to be suspicious about something, it should be about the relationship between President Arroyo and Noynoy Aquino]," Villar said yesterday during a commencement exercise in Pasay City where he was a guest speaker.

Salceda will join LP senatorial bet Ralph Recto - chief architect of the infamous 12-percent expanded VAT - and former Trade and Industry secretaries Manuel Roxas II and Cesar Purisima.

Other former Arroyo Cabinet members who are now with Aquino are Florencio Abad, Avelino Cruz, Dinky Soliman, Rene Villa, and Teresita Deles.

According to Villar, this latest development also belied the black propaganda peddled by his political rivals, such as allegations that President Arroyo is urging her party's local candidates to defect to NP.

"Ngayon napatunayang kalokohan yun mga sinasabi na ang Pangulo ang nagbibigay ng signal sa mga lokal na lumipat sa amin. Iba-iba ang akusasyon sa akin na napu-prove din namang mali. Pero nasisira muna ang aking pangalan. Kaya para sa akin, ang pangyayaring 'yan ay talagang vindication sa akin," added Villar.

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