Cynthia Villar on topping senatorial race: Nagustuhan nila ang aking trabaho

Senator Cynthia Villar, who is leading the Senate race based on partial counts, both official and unofficial, on Wednesday said the public may have appreciated her work at the Senate and decided to vote for her.

"I guess nagustuhan nila 'yung aking trabaho sa Senado. Nagustuhan nila 'yung aking advocacy na hanapbuhay at saka pagtulong sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda, pagtulong sa mga OFW [overseas Filipino workers]," said Villar, who placed 10th in the 2013 senatorial elections.

As of 8:26 a.m. on Wednesday, partial and unofficial count from the Comelec Transparency Server showed that Villar is at the top of the Senate race with 24,697,150 votes from 96.20% of election returns processed.

Meanwhile, based on the National Board of Canvassers official count as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Villar was on top of the heap with 4,092,454 votes or around 400,000 votes ahead of second ranked Poe with 3,650,288 votes. The canvassed votes were sourced from 34 Certificates of Canvass from 130 clustered precincts across the country and Philippine posts abroad.

For the coming 18th Congress, Villar said she will make sure the rice tariffication law and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund will be implemented well.

"Ako 'yung nagpasa nung tinatawag na rice tariffication [law] which created the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. One of the works of a senator is oversight. Ako sumulat noon kaya ang gagawin ko ay i-o-oversight ko po sa next Congress na ma-implement 'yon very well," she said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Balita.

"And at the same time I have to file again the law creating the disposition of the coco levy fund and the creation of the coconut industry fund," Villar said.

"Forty-five percent of our farmers are rice farmers. Another 45% are coconut farmers. Between the two of them, they're 90% of the farmers of the Philippines. If I can help them, then that would be very good for the agriculture industry," she said.

Topping the elections

Villar admitted she was not surprised that she is topping the senatorial vote counting so far since past surveys indicated she would do so.

"Kasi noong last time in April and May eh tatlong survey, dalawang Pulse Asia at isang SWS [Social Weather Stations], ang findings magna-number 1 ako. Of course whether it will come about during Election Day, kasi delivery of votes 'yan eh, kung 'di naman ganu'n ang delivery, pero mukhang tama 'yong survey. Hindi naman ako nagulat pero natuwa naman ako that what 'yung result ng survey, 'yon ang nangyari," she added.

Aiming for President?

On running for a higher post and even aspiring to become President in the future, Villar said she is not thinking about it, believing that being the chief executive of the land is a matter of destiny.

"I really believe that the presidency is destiny. Hindi mo puwedeng isipin 'yon kasi mahirap naman 'yung ganu'n. Being a senator, nakukuha pa 'yan sa pagtitiyaga at sa whatever 'yung advocacy na ginawa mo. But the presidency is very different. I've seen it. Hindi ko muna iniisip 'yon. Hindi mo naman ginagawa 'yon. Binibigay sa 'yo yon," Villar said.

In a separate interview on Tuesday, Villar said a post higher than senator would be "a gift from God." —KG, GMA News