Villar on presidency: No, ‘unless God gives it to me on a silver platter’

Senator Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Cynthia Villar rejected Tuesday talks of any possible presidential run in 2022 unless God would give it to her on a silver platter.

Villar said this as she leads the partial and unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) in the senatorial race. She was followed by fellow reelectionist Senator Grace Poe, who also topped the senatorial race when she first ran in 2013.

READ: Villar leads in early partial tally of senatorial votes

Villar said she is convinced that running for president is a “destiny.”

“Kung ibibigay sayo ng Dyos ‘yan, iyo ‘yan. Kapag hindi, hindi sa’yo ‘yan. I really believe that,” she said in an interview over DZMM.

Asked about the possibility that she would run for president, the senator said: “Hindi ko na po iisipin ‘yan eh. Kung dumating ang oras na andun, that’s when I decode kasi hindi naman talaga nakukuha ‘yan sa sipag at tyaga eh.”

“Mayroon talagang pinagbibigyan n’yan eh at merong hindi. Baka kami ‘yung pamilya namin hindi kami pinagbibigyan n’yan eh,” she said.

Villar’s husband, former Senate President Manny Villar, ran but lost to former President Benigno S. Aquino III in the 2010 presidential elections.

The senator said she would not allow herself to be persuaded by other people, saying she would study and see it for herself if there is indeed a clamor for her to run for president.

“Alam mo ‘pag ganito ang positon natin, maraming nag-uudyok talaga so ‘wag kang mababaliw doon kasi you have to know yourself,” she said.

Pressed again if she was saying no to the presidency, Cynthia Villar said she is not yet thinking about it.

“Pero I don’t think so unless ibigay sa akin ng Dyos ‘yan on a silver platter, I’m not going to exert any effort to be a president,” she added. /kga