MANILA, Feb 2, 2010 (AFP) - Wealthy property developer Manuel Villar on Tuesday accused his fellow senators of concocting corruption allegations against him to sabotage his campaign to become the Philippines' next president.

''I have never stolen money from the public coffers and I do not intend to steal,'' said Villar in an emotional appearance on the Senate floor as his rivals watched, stoney-faced.

Latest opinion polls show the 60-year-old self-made multi-millionaire has gained on his rivals in the presidential campaign, to just a few points behind leading candidate Benigno Aquino ahead of the May vote.

Villar has been accused by colleagues, who include three rival candidates, of pocketing up to 6.2 billion pesos (133.33 million dollars) from a Manila toll road project, called C-5, that ran through his property developments.

''Where can you find a court where those passing judgment on you are your political opponents? Look at those who are accusing me and you will find that everyone one of them is my rival... or their allies,'' said Villar.

''I have no fault. There is no anomaly in the C-5 project. I have no doubt that all of this is just political. This is a plot of a few to destroy me,'' Villar said angrily.

Villar also contrasted his poverty-stricken upbringing in a Manila slum with his fellow senators' wealthy backgrounds.

''Life can be unfair. A child of privilege always gets the benefit of the doubt. A child of poverty hardly qualifies,'' he said.

Aquino, son of murdered senator Benigno ''Ninoy'' Aquino Jnr. and the late former president Corazon Aquino, has seen his once-vast lead over Villar shrink to a mere seven points, according to a survey released Monday.

After addressing the Senate, Villar left without taking questions from his fellow senators, only shaking hands with his supporters in the gallery.

His rival senators chided Villar for refusing to take questions, saying this showed he could not answer their accusations.