MANILA, Philippines?A former Cabinet secretary was the secret emissary who offered Sen. Richard Gordon a government post and reimbursement of his campaign expenses?if he would withdraw from the presidential race.

Aside from the hint, the Bagumbayan party?s standard-bearer refused to reveal any more details about the emissary supposedly sent to see him by one of his rivals, Nacionalista Party presidential candidate Sen. Manny Villar.

?Why should we believe you?? commentator Winnie Monsod asked Gordon during a live interview on Unang Hirit, the morning television program of GMA-7.

?Because I have a track record that does not include lying (while) Villar has a record of being a denial king,? Gordon replied.

?I can prove (that Villar made me an offer). In fact, I already told somebody in media (the emissary?s identity) in case something happens to me,? Gordon said.

?I?ll tell you this?the person is a high-ranking official, a former Cabinet secretary.?

Gordon said his withdrawal from the presidential race was really not the main concern of the emissary. The emissary was more interested in Gordon?s withdrawal of support from Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

That was the reason, Gordon said, the emissary asked him not to reveal his name to Enrile.

?That I was being offered a Cabinet post and reimbursement was secondary. Kabit na lang po iyon (That was just an add-on). The primary goal was to oust Senator Enrile so that he would not go on with the C-5 committee report,? Gordon said.

Gordon would have been the swing vote in the ouster of Enrile after the latter decided to release the report calling for Villar?s censure for ?conflict of interest? in the C-5 affair.

The call stemmed from Villar?s alleged failure to disclose his involvement in the housing developments that benefited from the rerouting of the C-5 extension road in Parañaque and Las Piñas cities.