Villar and Lacson's disappearing acts

Where are the two most important and controversial personalities of the Senate?

Reports are rife that authorities are ready to arrest Senator Lacson for his alleged involvement in the Dacer-Corbito murder. Records from the Bureau of Immigration reveal that he had earlier left for Hong Kong, after submitting to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile a request for a formal leave, that has already expired last January 18.

The buzz around the Senate media – echoing the hush-hush of at least two Senators – is that Senator Lacson is in Australia.

Is he hiding?

Also scarcely seen in the Senate is controversial Presidential bet Senator Manny Villar, who refused to participate in what he describes as a “kangaroo court’ the hearings and floor deliberations on the C-5 road claiming that all present there are his political enemies.

It’s sad to end the 14th Congress with the absence of Senator Lacson who together with Senator Jamby Madrigal initiated the issue of another absentee, Senator Villar, now accused of using government funds to reroute the C-5 road that would benefit many of his properties in the area.

Accuser and accused are gone!

So how long does Senator Lacson intend to be in hiding? Why is he also doing, “a Villar”?

Why, like Senator Manny Villar does he refuse to face his detractors?

Enrile chided Senator Villar for not even bothering to send a lawyer during the many hearings of the Senate Committee of the Whole, not even lifted a finger to defend himself or explain his side. The SP even jokingly said that he, a lawyer of good stature and standing, was willing to be Senator Villar’s lawyer for half the amount he was supposed to return to the government, or Php3 billion (Senator Villar was supposed to return an estimated amount of Php6 billion).

Senator Lacson is most remembered for his many exposes against First Gentleman Mike Arroyo – the alleged mistress Vicky Toh, accusations of various under-the-table transactions, alleged connections to smuggling activities, etc.

All throughout these allegations was a feisty Senator Lacson who buttressed his tirades with powerpoint presentations and even titillating pictures such as the First Gentleman’s picture with Vicky Toh in San Francisco.

If it’s not the First Gentleman himself, his lawyers were always there in the Senate hearings, never tiring of defending and insisting on the First Gentleman’s innocence.

Now, the tables have turned; Senator Lacson is being charged with a serious crime.

We have yet to hear his defense… from another country. Will he ever come back?

Senator Villar’s partymates, Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Aquilino Pimentel, are doing their best sarcastic behavior insisting on the political bias of the Committee Report on the C-5 issue.

Many are wondering how such esteemed, brilliant, and eloquent statesmen have allowed themselves to be pawns in convincing the public to blatantly ignore what Senator Villar did, at the height of his political power.

Hecklers are wont to say that the construction of the much-ballyhooed C-5 Road is a product of Senator Villar’s ‘sipag at tiyaga’ to divert the road nearest his properties.

Notwithstanding the absence of these two Senators is still another who had been almost invisible in the Senate premises throughout his term.

Thank God he managed to pass one law.

Here’s the kicker. He’s running again for re-election in May!

Hope to see new personalities on July 2010 at the Senate. Enough of those charged with murder and corruption!

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