TUBLAY, Benguet, Philippines—Perhaps the former President was only returning the favor?

Whatever, ousted Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. has “absolved” former President Joseph Estrada for reportedly being the hand behind Villar’s ouster.

It will be recalled that Villar pulled a fast one in 2000 when he used a prayer to transmit the articles of impeachment against then President Estrada to the Senate.

Last week, Estrada allegedly helped remove Villar as Senate president because the former reportedly wants the latter out of the way of the opposition ticket in the 2010 presidential election.

Estrada has denied any hand in the coup that saw Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, an ally of both President Macapagal-Arroyo and her deposed predecessor, take the plum post from Villar.

Villar, who was here Saturday as guest of the town’s 108th founding anniversary, said he harbors no ill feelings over the latest development in the Senate that led to losing his grip on the third highest position in the land.

‘He’s still my friend’

“It’s OK. Sa mga bagay na ganyan, sanay na tayo d’yan. Marami na tayong pinagdaanan na hirap sa buhay at yung mga ganito ay sanay na tayo at tanggap na natin (We’re used to these things. We’ve overcome hardships and we can easily accept this),” he said.

“Si Erap ay nananatiling isa kong kaibigan, hanggang ngayon (Erap remains my friend),” Villar said. “I respect him as a friend. I have no bad feelings for him.”

He took a dig at his colleagues in the Senate by alluding to this town’s cool climate. “Mabuti dito, malamig. Sa Manila mainit. Kaya maraming mainit ang ulo. Gaya sa Senado, marami ding mainit ang ulo (It’s nice here because it’s cool. It’s hot in Manila. So many people are hot-headed. Just like in the Senate, there are many hot-headed people),” he said.

Villar for president

Now free from his job as Senate president, Villar said he would live up to his word by making use of his time to work on his presidential bid.

On Saturday, Villar related his rags to riches story, the same one he told when he first ran for the Senate.

Still smarting from the Senate ouster, he said his poor and humble beginnings and his climb to success gave him enough experience to know what the country needed to progress.

Asked if his speech signaled the beginning of his presidential campaign, Villar said: “Game na game na (I’m more than ready). But we are more serious this time.”

He also said he wanted to step up his campaign and work on his advocacy for the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“Now that I have more time, I will be visiting more places with OFWs and I will not stop until their lives have improved,” Villar said.

In La Trinidad town, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano minced no words saying that politics was behind Villar’s ouster.

Cayetano said there would be more politics and less work as the 2010 presidential election nears. With Inquirer Research