MANILA, Philippines -- Former Senate president Manuel Villar said he has no regrets over having to step down from his post after losing the support of the majority in the chamber.

In fact, Villar said he is now relieved at being liberated from the many responsibilities of the Senate presidency.

“Okey na okey ako ditto [I’m really okay with this]. No feelings of regrets, talagang okey lang iyan [it really is okay],” he said over the ABS-CBN News Channel.

“At least now, I can say I am free and my movements are more unrestrained. I can now do many things I could not do when I was Senate president, so in a way, I also feel relieved. Right now, I feel I’m free so I am not really sad,” he said.

Villar could not say why there was a move to oust him from his post, saying he would rather leave it to the people to judge.

He also refused to say the ouster move had to do with his declaration he is running for president in 2010.

“Nagkataon naman na biglang nagta-top tayo sa survey ay nangyari ito. Pero as I said earlier, hayaan na lang natin [It so happened that I topped the surveys when this happened. But as I said earlier, let’s leave it at that],” he said.

“Ayoko namang pangunahan ang mga kasamahan natin. Maski na nasa kabilang partido ako, mananatili pa rin ang pag-galang ko sa kanila [I don’t want to second guess our colleagues. Even if I am now with the other partyt, I maintain my respect for them,” Villar said.

He said he is also confident his resignation would not affect his presidential bid.

“Sa tingin ko naman wala dahil ngayon magkakaroon na ako ng oras. Talaga namang malaking trabaho rin itong pagiging pangulo ng Senado at hindi ka masyadong makapagsalita dahil sa bumabalanse ka [I don’t think so because now I have more time. Being Senate president is really very hard work and you cannot really speak because you have to balance things],” he said.