The camp of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar denounced Monday night the Senate Committee of the Whole report on the C-5 road project controversy, saying “It's clearly about politics and the presidency. It is definitely not about truth.”

Villar’s camp issued this statement following the submission of the report after the Committee of the Whole mustered 12 signatures supporting its recommendation that Villar be censured for unethical and improper conduct in connection with the alleged double-funded road project.

But in a statement issued by former Rep. Gilbert Remulla, NP spokesman, he said the conclusions reached in the report were not consistent with the transcripts of the proceedings nor the evidence that were presented. “It was all about the headlines that it would grab and the sound bites they could produce in this week of data gathering for the next nationwide survey and at the time when Senator Villar has closed the gap between him and his closest rival,” Remulla said.

“From the very beginning the NP had maintained the whole investigation was conceived and designed to do one thing – to destroy the reputation and good name of Senator Manny Villar. Despite the choice of Sen. Villar not to participate in the hearings, the investigation could only produce evidence that would disprove their charges.

“The recommendations reached in the report are a stretch to say the least and preposterous at most. The whole procedure – from its accuser/prosecutor/ judge all rolled into one all the way to the partiality of its jurors – would not stand in any court of law.

“There is a clear demarcation line between the senators on the issue. It is between those whose interest lies in not seeing Senator Villar in Malacañang and those who stand for decency and respect for the truth in the Senate.

“With the report, we sense the desperation in the rivals of Senator Villar for the presidency and their fear of a truly independent leader who will fight for the poor in our beloved country,” Remulla added.

The 12 senators who signed the report are Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Edgardo Angara, Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal, Manuel Roxas II, Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Escudero, Richard Gordon, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan.

The committee report finds Villar liable for violating Section 14, Article VI of the Constitution for intervening with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to realign portions of the road to benefit his real estate properties.

The report also demanded that Villar return the P6.22 billion “wasted” due to the realignment back to government coffers.

The report further recommended that Villar be censured for violating provisions of the Constitution and the Code of Conduct of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for unethical and improper conduct and damaging the integrity of the Senate.

The committee report will be tackled by the Chamber during plenary session this afternoon.

The Committee of the Whole started investigating Villar in 2008 after the Senate learned of the alleged insertion of P200-million fund for the completion of the C-5 road project in Paranaque City.

Sen. Madrigal filed an ethics complaint against Villar for allegedly committing conflict of interest when he failed to divest himself of his interests in Adelfa Properties, Golden Haven Memorial Park and Azalea Real Estate Corp. (now Brittany Corp.)

The issue also led to the ouster of Villar as then Senate President.