Senator Jamby Madrigal at ANC's News at 8, October 3, 2008.

Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal on Monday stepped down as a member of the Senate's ethics committee, citing "delicadeza" (sense of propriety) over the ongoing verbal tussle on Senate President Manuel Villar's alleged part in the double funding for a southern Metro Manila road project.

"It’s a matter of delicadeza," Madrigal told a radio dzMM interview Monday afternoon.

Madrigal also said she is preparing to file a complaint against Villar by Wednesday for conflict of interest.

"Ipinapakita namin dito sa minority na mayroon kaming delicadeza na hindi kami kailangan alisin sa pwesto kung may conflict. Kasi, kung ako na ang magsasampa, I cannot also be the judge," Madrigal added.

Madrigal said she will be replaced by Sen. Loren Legarda as a member of the committee.

Madrigal alleged that there are several pieces of evidence that illustrates Villar's conflict of interest in the funding of the C-5 road extension project.

"Kasi napatunayan na siya 'yung nag-admit at napatunayan na ni Sen. (Juan Ponce) Enrile na siya 'yung nagpalagay ng double insertion so the next thing we have to prove is conflict of interest kung nalabag niya yung anti-graft at yung code of ethical conduct of public officials at iba-iba pang mga batas," she said.

'' 'Twas Villar'

Enrile had confirmed that it was Villar who had asked for a P200-million insertion in the 2008 national budget to fund a portion of the C-5 road extension project that passes through several housing projects in Parañaque City.

Enrile said the Senate finance committee, which he chairs, will soon publish a report on all amendments, inserts and realignments proposed by each senator in the 2008 General Appropriations Act.

The issue of the double insertions started after Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed that Villar had authorized the double entries in the 2008 budget for the C-5 extension project from the South Luzon Expressway to Sucat, Parañaque. Lacson said Villar must publicly explain his role in the alleged double entry and if his family's real estate company, Brittany Corp., would financially benefit from the project.

Villar has denied that the budget insertions were irregular. He said the first P200 million would go to a flyover in Sucat while the other P200 million will go to a flyover connecting Quirino Avenue and Coastal Road.

"He used public funds there. May conflict of interest na din dyan. Everything will be put very well in my complaint. Let us not jump the gun. Basahin na lang natin sa complaint. Pero in a nutshell, mukhang ginagamit niya yung kaban ng taumbayan para sa kanyang financial gains. Yung mga roads na dumadaan sa kanyang lupa ay pinondohan ng taumbayan," explained Madrigal.

Hands clean, see?

Villar has denied accepting the P94 million payment from the government for his property. He said if the money is still with the Toll Regulatory Board, he would like to donate it as additional funds to help overseas Filipino workers.

"Kung normal kang developer, yung mga roads na dumadaan sa subdivision mo, ikaw ang nagpopondo doon. Siya, sinuswerte kasi pera ng taunmbayan ang ginagamit niya at patuloy pa siya sa pagyaman, ginagamit niya ang influence, power, posisyon, niya to influence this contract, that is against the code of ethics in the anti-graft law," Madrigal said.

Madrigal also said that those who have an "opinion on the matter should not sit on the committee."

"Ang maganda sana kung magpakita din ng delicadeza si Sen. [Alan] Cayetano at kung miyembro siya, hindi ko alam kung sino ang miyembro ng majority, pero if he is a member of the ethics committee, maganda din na magbitaw sya para walang vested interest doon at his sister mabigyan ng pagkakataon na hopefully magkaroon ng hearing of the fact," she said

Sen. Cayetano is the brother of Sen. Pia Cayetano who is the head of the Senate ethics committee.

"Kami sa Senado, sa minority, we are showing good faith at we are showing the example na buhay pa ang delicadeza. Pero kung wala silang delicadeza, OK lang din 'yan," Madrigal said.