Senate President Manuel Villar said it is better to accept the country's rating as the most corrupt country in Asia, so the Filipino people can unite.

Villar spoke before a convocation recently at the Luce Auditorium in Silliman University, Dumaguete City, where he stressed the future challenges of the Philippine Senate.

He said the latest survey places the Philippines on top of its Asian neighbors in the list of corrupt countries. This is a confirmation of what's in the mind of the Filipino people and there's no need to hide it, Villar said.

He however, said he cannot determine who is to the most corrupt president so far. With his leadership in the past seven months, Villar claims that he was able to defend the Senate as an institution.

"Efforts to abolish the Senate is within the ambit of the law, but I would not want shortcuts," he said.

Villar said he had no quarrel with the President as he is merely doing his job. In fact, economic bills of the President were passed during his stint.

In seven months, the Philippine Senate had passed and approved 164 bills, four times more than those of the previous leadership. Villar had filed the second most number of bills during his incumbency, records show.

Speaking in front of students, barangay officials and local officials, Villar challenged them to start a small business and change the culture of being too dependent, an attitude that led the country to become a nation of employees.

Before entering politics, Villar was a fish vendor in Divisoria where he rose to become a congressman in two districts, then as Senator in 2001.*JG

back to top