Villar dares Aquino to name funders
'He has connections to GMA, not me'

Where is Liberal Party (LP) presidential bet Benigno Aquino III getting his campaign funds?

Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar yesterday challenged his rival Benigno Aquino III to name the people or groups funding his campaign to see who really has the backing of the Arroyo administration.

"Where is he getting his money? Is this the fruit of their Gloriaquino collusion?" Villar said.

Villar said records will show that Aquino has already spent close to P500 million for his ads alone, urging the LP presidential bet to lay down his cards this early and do a proper accounting.

As of March 21, Aquino only had 14 minutes of air time left in ABS-CBN and 22.5 minutes in GMA 7.

The NP standard-bearer reiterated that he has been spending his own money for the presidential campaign and stressed that he was not beholden to anyone.

"I am beholden to no one but myself because I am spending my own money. Can Senator Aquino say the same thing? If it's not his money, then who are funding him?" Villar said.

"Maybe he is benefiting from the Arroyo administration because he has some relatives in her Cabinet. Siya ang may koneksyon, hindi ako. There are also some LP members employed by President Arroyo. Baka kaya may propaganda sila na ako daw ay secret candidate ng Malacañang dahil gusto nilang itago ang katotohanang sila ang totoong nakikinabang," Villar added.

"Hindi imposibleng merong 'Gloriaquino' candidate. To me, they have more to gain from an alliance with Malacañang than me. My supposed links with Mike Arroyo is really just vicious black propaganda. What is sinister is how they invent lies to hide their own political machinations," Villar said.

The NP presidential bet said the question of who Aquino's funders are is fast becoming the biggest mystery in the 2010 presidential polls.

"Spill the beans. Be transparent and practice what you preach. No less than a full disclosure will do. He owes it to the electorate to say where his funds are coming from. Baka magulat na lang tayo na ang pinanggagalingan pala ng pondo niya ay dun sa malayo nating iniisip," Villar said.