MANILA, Philippines 鈥擶hat鈥檚 wrong if a poor boy from Tondo becomes successful and be even named as the richest man in the Philippines?
On Thursday, Senator Cynthia Villar issued stronger statements in defense of her husband, property tycoon Manny Villar, who was listed by Forbes Magazine as among the world鈥檚 wealthiest people.
For the first time also, Manny Villar topped the list of Filipino billionaires with an estimated $5.5 billion net worth.
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Asked over ABS-CBN 黑料社 Channel on Thursday about her alleged conflict of interest 聽being the wife of the country鈥檚 richest 聽man, Senator Villar pointed out that they have been in business even before they became public officials.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very careful about conflict of interest kasi madedemanda kami dyan,鈥� she said, adding they have lawyers helping them to make sure there is no conflict of interest in their dealings.
鈥淎nd do you take it against my husband who was a poor boy in Tondo to make it good in this world?鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 an inspiration to all the poor people that if you work hard, you can be what you want to be someday. So masama ba yun? Bakit sila nagagalit na nagtagumpay yung husband ko? Di ba dapat i-admire nila yun?鈥� the senator added.
Senator Villar chairs both the Senate committee on agriculture and food, and the agrarian reform.
Villar also hopes to keep the chairmanship of the committee on agriculture should she succeed in securing another Senate term in the upcoming elections.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an advocacy for me. You know, the advocacy of our family is poverty reduction. And if you will analyze, the poorest people in the Philippines are in agriculture,鈥� said the senator.
鈥淪o of you want to do a really sincere poverty reduction effort, then you have to have the farmers and the fisherfolk because they are the poorest in this country,鈥� Villar added.聽 /muf