MANILA, Philippines - Don't compare Senator Manuel "Manny" Villar's situation to what my father faced under the martial law government of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

This was what Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's camp said Tuesday, after a colleague allied with his opponent in the 2010 presidential elections compared Villar to his martyred father.

Senator Joker Arroyo on Tuesday compared the situation faced by Villar to what the late former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr faced during the martial law years.

This was quoted by Villar in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News.

"Sabi nga ni Joker Arroyo kagabi, mismo si Ninoy Aquino, doon sa Military Commission, hindi siya nagparticipate dahil alam niya ang desisyon - hindi siya makakakuha ng hustisya," Villar said.

Aquino III, however, was alarmed at this comparision, saying that Villar, who trails him in the polls, cannot compare his situation with what his father faced back then.

'Ninoy a hero, Villar a coward'

"Villar should defend himself according to his own merits, and not by disparaging the untarnished memory of a national hero," a statement from Aquino campaign spokesperson Atty. Edwin Lacierda said.

"In the case of Ninoy, he was tried for his obstinate opposition to authoritarian and repressive rule, even in the face of certain death, while Villar is being asked to answer serious corruption charges and unethical conduct where the penalty is censure and retribution, a far cry from the death penalty imposed on Ninoy," Lacierda said.

"Ninoy was tried by a kangaroo court that was subject to the whims of a dictator while Villar was accorded every opportunity to defend himself in a democratic and transparent process which he repeatedly ignored," he added.

"There is simply no comparison; Ninoy is a hero. Villar is nothing but a coward," Lacierda said.

Aquino III also had some harsh comments for Sen. Arroyo, who served as executive secretary of the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Aquino III said that Sen. Arroyo today is different from the human rights lawyer and freedom fighter of the past.

Villar upset over squabble

Meanwhile, Villar said he is upset over the scenes at the Senate floor Monday, where his colleagues almost resorted to insults while debating the C-5 road project controversy, of which he is the central figure.

One heated exchange that stood out on the Senate floor from Monday's deliberations was the joke made by Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel to Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas.

On Tuesday, Roxas was still incensed over the joke, while Pimentel said sorry for his gaffe through a prayer. (Read: Pimentel apologizes for 'insertion' joke). From a report by Ces Oreña-Drilon, ABS-CBN News