MANILA, Philippines—Cavite Representative Crispin Remulla advised Senator Benigno "Noynoy” Aquino III on Friday to be more diligent in attending Senate hearings, specifically the C-5 Road double insertion probe, to ensure that he got his facts straight.

Remulla was reacting to a challenge made by Aquino against Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar, to appear in the stalled C-5 hearings which the real estate billionaire has snubbed.

"Had Senator Aquino regularly attended the ethics committee hearings on the C-5 Road extension project, he would have known that all of the witnesses presented by the accusers exonerated Senator Villar. Aquino should have also known that the accusers have failed to prove any of their allegations,” said Remulla in a text message to reporters.

Remulla is the brother of Villar’s spokesperson.

"As a presidential candidate, Aquino should be more careful in his statements and not just say whatever his handlers tell him to say,” said Remulla.

A budget officer had pointed to an adviser of Villar as the one who requested to insert a P200 million allocation to build the C-5 road extension project last year even though a similar amount had been allocated for the same project in the same year. Villar was also seen as having gained personally from the C-5 Road extension because it was built to pass through or along his housing projects in the area.

Villar has denied in media interviews any irregularities in his lobbying for the C-5 budget.