Press Release
May 8, 2010

AQUINO 'THE LAST GASP OF AN OLIGARCHY'
Villar: Only one family ruled RP for over 50 years

The country has been ruled - and languished - under the rule of essentially one family for the last 50 years.

This is according to Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar, who said that the Arroyos, Aranetas, Madrigals and the Cojuangcos who comprise the country's oligarchy are practically relatives either by affinity or interlocking interests.

"To me, what we're witnessing now is the last gasp of an oligarchy. Talagang ipinaglalaban nila na hindi mawala ang hawak ng mga oligarchs sa ating bansa," Villar said, commenting on the support given by the country's rich families to Liberal Party (LP) candidate Sen. Benigno Aquino III.

"The reason they want the leading candidate is because they can control him. And he is one of them."

Villar made the remarks in a speech before pastors and ministers of evangelical groups that endorsed his candidacy on Friday in Mandaluyong City.

He lamented that the oligarchs in the country are supporting Aquino even in the absence of any sign of competence, experience and track record in the LP candidate.

"Hindi natin tinatanong kung ano na ba ang nagawa nung kandidato. At parang napakahalaga sa atin ang apelyido. Sino ka ba? Sino ba ang pamilya mo?" Villar said.

"Pumili sila ng isang kandidatong alam naman nilang walang nagagawa. Labindalawang taong mambabatas, maski isang bill walang naipasa," he added, referring to Aquino's record as a three-term congressman in Tarlac.

He said what is worse is that when asked on why these rich families support Aquino, they say the question is irrelevant.

"Ngayon lang ako nagsasalita ng ganito dahil naaawa lang ako sa ating mga mahihirap� Kasi sila (the rich), pag nagkamali ng pili ng pangulo, kakain pa rin sila. Pag nagkamali ng pili ng pangulo, kung hindi marunong ang pangulo, makakapagpagamot pa rin kayo, makakapag-aral pa rin ang mga anak niyo. May bahay pa rin kayo," he said.

"Pero paano yung milyun-milyong Pilipino ngayon na hindi makapagpagamot? Hindi makapag-aral? Walang trabaho. Hindi makakain nang regular. Nakakaranas ng gutom. Na araw-araw ay wala nang iniisip kundi kung ano ang mangyayari sa kinabukasan."

He said the poor would have to endure yet another six years of poverty under an incompetent leadership.

"Kaya napakadali po para sa ating mga mayayaman na huwag nang tanungin yung kakayahan. Basta, anyway, siya'y isa sa amin," Villar said.

"To them, it is a wish. Ito yung dream nila. Di ba wishful thinking yan? Anybody who has not done anything much in his life, it would be very hard to bail this country out of its predicament, which is poverty."

He said the next president would be greeted by a barrage of problems confronting the country and the people, all of which need competence to address.

"Araw-araw na krisis yan: sa Mindanao, sa droga, pananalapi, agrikultura, edukasyon, kalusugan, araw-araw na pulitika. Ang krisis mo everyday. Kung di ka sanay sa krisis, paano na?" he asked.

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