MANILA, Philippines—The icy relations between Senate President Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. and Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson have apparently warmed.

Lacson was surprised when Villar showed up at the wake of his mother at Funeraria Samson in Imus, Cavite, Wednesday night.

“I was humbled by his humility,” Lacson said, adding that he thanked Villar for the gesture.

Lacson said that while he had raised some issues against Villar, he did not consider him an enemy.

Lacson had accused Villar of being responsible for a double appropriation for the C5 road extension project in the 2008 national budget and alleged that the project benefited the Senate President’s real estate empire.

On Thursday, Lacson said Villar’s visit was not related to the controversy.

He said Villar stayed to hear Mass with him and his family.

“And there I told him, take care of your mother. It’s so painful to lose your mother,” Lacson said.

Villar told Lacson his mother was all right though she also suffers from certain ailments.

Lacson’s 87-year-old mother died on November 3 of complications from a “silent stroke” that she suffered some months ago. Christine O. Avendaño