Not interested in being Speaker, says Cynthia Villar

Senator Cynthia Villar said Wednesday she is not interested to be the speaker of the House of Representatives should she be elected representative of Las Piñas City in Eleksyon 2025. 

“I just want to live a simple and productive life. Wala na ako masyadong ambisyon (I no longer have much ambition.),” Villar said when asked if she is ready to be the second female House chief at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum,.

Former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is the first female speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Villar noted that unlike her, Arroyo became president before she was elected to be the House’s top leader.

Dynasty 

Meanwhile, the senator said political dynasties are not an issue if the members of the family are doing good in their jobs.

Villar was asked to respond to criticisms of her family being a political dynasty as her daughter, Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar is running in Eleksyon 2025 to join her brother Senator Mark Villar in the Senate. Meanwhile, Cynthia is leaving the upper chamber and is vying to replace Camille as the representative of their bailiwick. 

“There’s nothing wrong with dynasty who will serve the people. Masama ‘ yung dynasty na niloloko ang mga tao. Hindi ba mas maganda if your family likes to serve the people, then you’re serving the people well and you’re honest, hardworking, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” the outgoing senator said. 

(What’s bad is a dynasty that fools the people. Is it not better if your family likes to serve the people well.)

For her, politicians who did not come from political dynasties, but are not serving the people well are much worse. 

Villar also pointed out that the positions that they have and are seeking to have are elective and not appointive roles. 

“When you talk of dynasty, they get elected. They’re not appointed. So if you don’t like for dynasty, then don’t vote for them ‘di ba? They do not force themselves, they campaign, they get elected,” the wife of former Senate President Manny Villar said.

“If ayaw ng tao e ‘di talo. Kung gusto ng tao at nanalo, okay din ‘yun. I don’t think it’s an issue. Baka nga issue pa kung you are not able to do the job, ‘yung capacity mo to do the job well that will be an issue also,” she added. 

(If the people don’t want you, you lose. If people like you and you win, that is also okay.) 

Villar then vouched for her children, saying they are capable of doing their jobs.

She cited as an example her son, Mark, whom she said “made good” as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways even if he is not an engineer. 

Cynthia said Camille was a graduate of business from Ateneo de Manila University and earned her masters degree from IESE Business School in Europe which she said would help in developing the agriculture sector in the country.

“I think, my daughter will be able to good job there, just give her a chance… I think, Camille will do that, encourage the young people to be better because she is the youngest. I think, she can do the job well and I think it’s a matter of knowing who will do the job well,” she said. — RF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.