Independent presidential candidate Senator Ma. Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal Thursday downplayed the criticism hurled against her by an ally of Nationalista Party standard (NP) bearer Manuel Villar in connection with her (Madrigal) allegation that the latter, through an emissary, offered her P1 billion to withdraw her Senate ethics case against him.

NP senatorial candidate Adel Tamano earlier described Madrigal’s allegation as something “ludicrous”.

Tamano said Madrigal is actually “making a mockery of the electoral exercises by running for president merely to attack one particular candidate alone.”

Asked to comment on Tamano’s statement, Madrigal said she would not dignify it.

“I will not glorify the vile remarks of a mere spokesman for Villar,” she said.

Madrigal, instead, took Tamano’s statement as an opportunity to hit the NP presidential timber anew by falling short of alleging that Villar is a coward.

“Why is Villar hiding behind Adel Tamano’s pretty face? As Samuel Johnson said: ‘Slander is a coward’s revenge and dissimulation his defense,” she charged.

Madrigal on Wednesday claimed she was offered P1 billion to stop her from filing charges of corruption, among others, against Villar.

"An emissary was sent… binibigyan ng malaking halaga. Ang kapalit [nito] ay hindi ko na itutuloy ang imbestigasyon sa Senado… i-withdraw ko na lang iyong aking mga paratang... malaking malaking halaga po… P1 billion," Madrigal alleged on GMA’s Unang Hirit’s “UH Hiritan 2010," a television forum for national candidates in the May elections.

Madrigal refused to reveal the identity of the supposed emissary, but said, “kakaunti lang naman ang mga sobrang yaman na tumatakbong presidente."

Meanwhile, NP spokesperson and senatorial bet Gilbert Remulla Thursday said Madrigal is seeking a Cabinet position with the LP in exchange for the series of accusations against Villar.