MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) - Due to lack of a quorum, the Senate failed to vote on a report recommending the censure of Senator Manny Villar for unethical conduct in connection with transactions involving the C-5 road project.

There were only 11 senators present when plenary session resumed on Wednesday, one short to make quorum. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile noted that members of the minority left the chamber after the hearing of the bicameral Commission of Appointments.

"Evidently, some members opted not to attend the session to prevent the disposition of this matter. The chair is now faced with the problem of lack of quorum," he said.

Aside from Villar, those who failed to attend the plenary session were:  

Sen. Edgardo Angara;

Sen. Joker Arroyo;

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano;

Sen. Pia Cayetano;

Sen. Manuel "Lito" Lapid;

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago;

Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla;

Sen. Loren Legarda;

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.; 

Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Senator Jamby Madrigal asked Enrile to use his powers to arrest the absent senators, most of whom are allies of Villar, and compel them to attend the session.

However, Enrile said he chose not to exercise such powers since it will be seen as an oppressive action. "The chair opts to be more compassionate to these absent members. Let the people judge them," he said.

Senator Richard Gordon lamented that senators gave priority to the ethics report instead of passing important bills that are awaiting final approval by the Senate.

Ombudsman, yes; Senate, no

Villar, in a press conference held while the session resumed, said that with or without his presence, he was sure that his political opponents in the Liberal Party and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino had already made up their minds on the Senate committee of the whole report seeking his censure.

Twelve senators had signed the report recommending Villar's censure for failing to disclose his interests in the C-5 project which benefited him and his real estate companies. It also urges Villar to return P6 billion the government spent for an unnecessary realigned road project.

Villar said that instead of trying to prolong the debate at the Senate, his accusers should have filed a case against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He said he would have been more open to answering the issues regarding the C-5 road project point-by-point before the Ombudsman.

"They should have brought it to the Ombudsman a long time ago. It's easier to answer the allegations there because I know that it would not be biased," Villar said.

Villar said it has was clear from the start of his ethics' case proceedings that other presidential candidates only wanted to prolong consideration of the issue so that they would be able to hurt his election campaign.

He, however, he claimed that the prolonged debate on whether or not he acted unethically in connection with the C5 road project, has made people realize that politics was behind the controversy all along.

"Habang tumatagal kasi nauunawaan ng tao ang issue. Lumalabas talaga na politika lang eh. Sino ba ang nag-aakusa, puro kalaban sa politika (As the debate is prolonged the real issue is becoming clearer to the people. They are realizing that this is just politics)," Villar said.

Villar catches up

A Pulse Asia survey released on Wednesday said Villar and his closest rival in the May 10 presidential elections, Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III of the LP were already statistically tied.

The survey, conducted last January 22-26, showed Aquino registering 37% of voter preferences and Villar getting 35%. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 2%, which means Aquino's rating may be the same as Villar's.

Villar admitted that his rising survey ratings may be due to his infomercials, but denied that it was because he has more political ads than the other presidential aspirants.

He claimed that people remember his ads more because these are backed by fact.

"Sa akin kasi, kapanipaniwala, totohanan eh. Sa advertisement natin, galing sa hirap, totoo talaga. Sinabi ko ang mga kakayahan ko, toto naman talaga din. Kita iyan sa infomercial kung ikaw ay gumagawa lang ng istroya o katotohanan ang sinasabi mo (It's because my infomercials are more believable and truthful. In my ads I said I was poor, which is true. I laid down what are my capabilities, it's also true. People would know if you are just making up a story or telling the truth in infomercials)," Villar said.