PDP-Laban says no conflict of interest in Villar appointment

DAVAO CITY – The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) Tuesday defended presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to name Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar as Public Works secretary amid criticisms that there is a conflict of interest in the appointment.

 

Villar’s family owns property developer Vista Land and homebuilder Camella Homes.

 

PDP-Laban president Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, however, believes there is no outright conflict of interest in the appointment.

 

RELATED: Mark Villar accepts DPWH post

 

“With regard to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) secretary coming from a family with subdivision projects, I do not see any outright conflict of interest,” Pimentel said in an interview here.

 

Pimentel said such conflict is present if Villar is appointed to the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), which grants business permits.

 

“DPWH builds bridges, roads and other infrastructure of the government. There is no outright conflict of interest just from the mere fact that he came from a family which has subdivision projects,” the senator said.

 

“In the particular case that the proposed government infrastructure project will benefit one of your real properties, then you can, for that particular case, inhibit yourself from the decision-making process,” he added.

 

Pimentel, nevertheless, noted that Villar has to comply with the requirements under the law such as divestment of business interests, rules involving the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, and full disclosure of properties and assets.

 

READ: Villar still richest, Escudero poorest senator

Pimentel also said that he sees an influx of politicians to his party following the victory of its standard bearer Duterte in the presidential race.

 

He revealed that politicians from different parties have expressed interest to join the party.

 

“We have yet to accept applications. The PDP-Laban hierarchy will meet on what to do with the sudden increase in the influx of applications for party membership,” Pimentel said in a chance interview here.

 

When asked if he expects an exodus from the ruling Liberal Party (LP), Pimentel said: “Actually, to tell you the truth, the pending applications did not just come from LP members. There are also applicants from other parties.”

 

“Let us not say that I see an exodus from a party but I see an influx into our party coming from different parties,” he added.

 

Pimentel said PDP-Laban does not need to become the majority in Congress as long as there is enough support for the Duterte administration’s legislative agenda.

 

“I go for quality rather than quantity. We don’t have to be the majority but we should be able to form a majority coalition not on the basis of personalities but on the program of government,” the senator said.

 

“What is important is they should believe in the president’s program, not because they believe that we are right for now because the president belongs to our party. We hope it will be a lasting relationship,” he added.  

 

Pimentel said those who want to join the PDP-Laban should be supporters of federalism, the “all-out search for peace” with the Communist Party of the Philippines, Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front, the “all-out war against crime, drugs, and corruption,” and inclusive economic growth.

 

Pimentel said he and Duterte’s defeated running mate Sen. Alan Cayetano are not raring to become Senate president.

 

“Sen. Cayetano and I will remain as senators and the position of Senate president will just be a bonus. What is important is we form a majority in the senate that will help the Duterte administration on the basis of program for government. We want to form a coalition for change,” he said.

 

Experts have said that the Philippines does not have a serious party system as politicians can always transfer from one group to another. They pointed out that parties in the Philippines are loose alliances that are based on personalities and not on ideologies or issues.