Iloilo land project aboveboard - Villar

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer yesterday said his land project in Iloilo is aboveboard, underscoring his companies are all open to public scrutiny.

Villar issued the statement to belie claims of Liberal Party senatorial candidate Franklin Drilon that he facilitated the illegal conversion of prime lands in an Iloilo town to build a subdivision for one of his real estate companies.

To which Villar shot back: "Mga public companies yan na binabantayan ng Securities and Exchange Commission at lahat ng agencies ng government. Puwede iyang tingnan ng kahit na sino," Villar told reporters after the NP's mini rally in Tanza Cavite.

"Walang nilalabag na batas (ang mga kompanya ko). Walang inagrabyado, at lalong walang niloko sa publiko. Marangal na ginagawa yan," the senator said.

He branded Drilon's claim as another round of mudslinging against him.

"Hindi ko malaman kung ano na namang mga akusasyon na inimbento yan. Basta may proseso iyan at naaayon sa batas. Nagtataka ako sa kanilang sinasabi. Ito ay kasama ng mga paninira sa akin," Villar said.

Villar's legal counsel Nalen Rosero Galang also denied Drilon's allegation in a statement to media.

"This is another act of desperation and traditional politicking. Companies owned by Senator Villar comply with all regulations and obtain all permits required for conversion, use and development of its properties," Galang said.

Galang said Villar's companies make it a point to obtain all necessary documents before embarking on a project.

"Prior to development, his companies make sure that the necessary conversion or exemption order is obtained and all projects are covered by duly issued development permits and licenses to sell," she said.

"Clearly, his opponents are obsessed with linking Senator Villar to an anomaly - any anomaly. That is why they keep concocting issues. And, as soon as the truth comes out they go and invent new issues," Galang added.

Drilon, a former Senate president whose post he relinquished to Villar in 2006, claimed that the NP presidential bet had a road built along Jibao-an in Pavia town, which will pass in front of Savannah subdivision in Barangay Polo Maestra in Oton town.

Villar's lawyer said the road Drilon mentioned has been in existence long before Savannah subdivision was even being planned. "The road he is referring to is a 20 km-provincial road that has been in existence long before Villar companies' built subdivisions in Iloilo," she added.

Sought for comment on the issue, NP senatorial candidate and spokesman Adel Tamano branded the new allegation as "cheap mudslinging" against Villar.

"I'm so surprised how the LP can stoop this low. At the start of campaign, lamang sila... They kept on saying na 'wag tayo magtapunan ng putik, i-raise natin yung level ng debate at platform lang ang pag-uusapan natin. Ngayon na nag-equal na ang kandidato namin sa kanila, e biglang nagtapon sila ng kung anu-anong alegasyon," Tamano said.