Cynthia Villar: We don’t need Napoles’ money

We don't need money from alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

This was Senator Cynthia Villar's statement on Tuesday following allegations that she and her husband, former Senate President Manny Villar, received pork barrel kickbacks and campaign contributions from Napoles.

In an interview, Villar, a neophyte senator, said her husband was capable of funding a presidential campaign with their own resources.

Mr. Villar ran for president in 2010, but lost to then-Senator Benigno Aquino III.

“Do you think naman kailangan ni Senator Villar?... May ipon naman kami. Siyempre kung may kumpanya may dibidendo ka na ibinibigay sayo... Kung hindi namin kaya kumandidato on our own, hindi kami kakandidato," Senator Villar said.

In her affidavit obtained by the Senate on Monday, Napoles claimed she once met with Mr. Villar along Shaw Boulevard to give him campaign contributions.

Napoles also accused Senator Villar of receiving a 30-percent kickback from a P3.7-million computer project implemented in 2004 by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

'Totally baseless'

Senator Villar, however, said she had no idea that Napoles had a hand in the purchase of these computers.

“Magkano lang ang 20 computers? My god, kung alam ko lang na yung 20 computers na iyon [ay galing kay] Napoles, hindi ko na tinanggap iyon. Ang liit-liit naman noon. Naawa lang ako sa mga constituents namin," she said.

In a separate statement, Mr. Villar said he never had any personal or official dealings with Napoles.

“It is very unfair, not to mention totally baseless that my name is being dragged into this issue, which has become so politicized. It seems like a new list is being drawn everyday,” he said.

The Villar couple declared over P1.62 billion in net worth last year. —Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News