Villar to Lacierda: My brother is a man of integrity

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines – Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Antonio Villar Jr. took up the cudgels for his embattled elder brother, Commission on Audit (COA) chairman Reynaldo Villar, who has insisted that his term ends in 2015 despite claims that his term actually ended last Feb. 2.

A visibly irked Secretary Villar told The STAR yesterday that he had talked to his brother and told him to leave his post as soon as possible rather than be unfairly treated by some government officials like presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda.

Lacierda earlier told reporters that the Palace is now looking for “a man with integrity” to become the new COA chair.

“You mean my brother is not a man of integrity? Stop talking too much. You don’t know my brother that well,” the DDB chair said to Lacierda.

“If you think he is not a man of integrity, or if he has been involved in anomalies, then expose them and sue my brother,” he challenged Lacierda. “You better choose your words carefully.”

He said he doesn’t believe Lacierda is doing President Aquino any favors with the kind of statements he is issuing, especially on the COA chair’s status.

He said Aquino is a decent man and would not speak unkind words towards anyone but “this Lacierda, he thinks he is too mighty with the kind of words he uses.”

He said his brother rose from the ranks, having served for 20 years at the COA.

He also said his brother has held vital positions in government, having been elected delegate to the Constitutional Convention that amended the Philippine Constitution and became floor leader of the convention.

“He lives a very decent life,” Villar said of his brother.

“In fact, his house is still small up to now, (even if it is) already 30 years old and he uses a COA issued vehicle although he has an old, personal car,” he said.