Cynthia Villar not eyeing Senate presidency despite refusal to sign pro-Sotto reso

Senator Cynthia Villar dismissed speculations that she was eyeing the Senate presidency especially after she refused to sign a resolution expressing support for the continued leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Viullar said she was not interested in the post.

“Alam mo naman ako hindi ako mahilig sa ganyan, mahilig lang ako sa farmers at fisherfolks at sa environment," Villar told reporters.

She said she needed to look after the interests of fellow Nacionalista Party members returning Senator Pia Cayetano and Senator-elect Imee Marcos, who are eyeing committee chairmanships.

“Hindi kasi maganda na pipirma ako tapos maiiwan yung dalawa kong bagong papasok sa Senado na NP. That’s part of being a member of the party," Villar said.

"You don’t just take care of yourself, you make sure na ang kapartido mo maayos din. Unfair naman na kami lang ang maayos, sila hindi maayos,” she added.

Villar earlier refused to sign the manifesto of support for Sotto that Senator Manny Pacquiao was asking their colleagues to sign before the session started on Monday.

She was overheard telling Pacquiao and Senator Aquilino Pimentel III to iron out issues within the PDP-Laban before asking other senators to support Sotto.

Senator-elect Francis Tolentino, a member of PDP-Laban, and Marcos have been quoted as saying that there was a move to replace Sotto as Senate President.

"Ang importante ayusin nila ang NP, ayusin din nila ang PDP-Laban,” Villar said.

“Kaya sinasabi ko sa kanila na ayusin nila ang partido nila. Bakit ako kasama na magse-Senate President ako as quoted by their partymates," she added.

"There must be something wrong there tapos ako madadamay, in fairness to those people. Ayusin nila because they are incoming senators,” Villar said.

Pacquiao said he was not offended by Villar’s refusal to sign and remarks.

“Hindi naman. Prerogative niya na ayaw niyang sumuporta so wala tayong magawa," Pacquiao said.  —NB, GMA News