Sen. Maria Ana Consuelo "Jamby" Madrigal likens fellow senator Loren Legarda to climate change, the latter's favorite advocacy of late.
 
In an exclusive interview, an irritated Madrigal said Legarda's decision to become Sen. Manuel Villar’s running mate after pushing for a Senate ethics investigation against the latter smacks of political opportunism.

Madrigal, who initiated the ethics probe against Villar over the alleged double insertion in the C-5 road project, said Legarda has a history of shifting allegiances.

"Well, she has a history. She used to be with Lakas, which is how she became senator. Then, when she thought that [actor] Fernando Poe Jr. would win [in the 2004 elections], she abandoned Lakas and joined FPJ. But then she and FPJ lost. She became an oppositionist because being pro-Gloria wasn't very popular. She was given an opportunity but now she's siding with Villar," she said.

“So mahal mo ba sarili mo o mahal mo ba ang taong bayan? Siya ang chairman ng oversight committee ng climate change. I know now why she loves climate change. She will always change to the climate that is favorable to her,” Madrigal said.
 
Madrigal said Legarda lacks conviction, which is why she finds it easy to shift alliances.

"Ako’y naaawa sa bayan. Sabi niya she will pray for me. I am also praying for her because I pity her na bawat ihip ng hangin tatalon na lang siya o sasampa siya,” she said.
 
On Tuesday Legarda said she had accepted Villar's invitation to become a guest vice-presidential candidate of the Nacionalista Party for the 2010 elections.

Legarda said she and Villar had numerous discussions about the campaign and found that they had similar advocacies and platforms. She also denied that she was taking back her fiercest criticisms of Villar at the height of the Senate ethics investigation.

"Lilinawin ko, wala akong tinatalikurang salita. Ang aking pagtulak ng anumang.. imbestigasyon ay ukol na rin sa proseso sa Senado at sa ating bansa. Demokrasya yan eh. Pag merong magsulong ng isang resolusyon ay tatayo ay susuporta sa proseso . Nobody is above the law, kung ako, si Senator Villar o sino man," she told reporters.

In a separate ABS-CBN interview, Legarda took issue with Madrigal's statement that joining Villar was a form of "political prostitution."

"Ang pag-aalyansa ng mga partido politikal at ayon sa plataporma ay hindi pagbibili ng boto o pagbibili ng katauhan ng tao. Walang pera sa pinag-uusapan. Ito'y alyansa ng plataporma ayon sa aming mga adbokasya," she said in an "Umagang Kay Ganda" interview.

She added that she would pray for Madrigal.

No surprise

Madrigal, who was in The Netherlands when the Villar-Legarda tandem was formally announced, said she wasn’t the least bit surprised by the team-up.
 
She said she and her fellow senators have long suspected that Legarda would go to Villar despite leveling harsh words against the senator at the start of the ethics investigation.

"[Legarda] hasn't been very visible lately maybe because she's busy negotiating or campaigning. But we in the majority know na talagang galit na galit siya kay Villar. Marami pa siyang unsavory names na sinasabi sa kanya,” Madrigal said.

She said Legarda even chided her and Sen. Panfilo Lacson that they might switch sides and not push through with the ethics investigation.

The senator said she does not see Legarda's decision as a personal affront but a betrayal of her fellow senators. "She betrayed the institution of the Senate at nataksil din niya mga taong bayan na umaasa sa kanya na isang taong me prinsipyo,” Madrigal said.

Madrigal also leveled harsh words against her fellow senators who are allegedly seeking the dismissal of the ethics case against Villar.

She said the resolution sought to pre-judge the case against Villar especially since the Senate Committee of the Whole had yet to issue a final report on the case.

"Sasabihin ko na… nakakasuka. (It makes me vomit.) Parang sasabihan mo isang judge na maraming ayaw nito. Parang suhol ito. This is like bribery. Bago pa lumabas ang ebidensiya hahatulan mo na,” Madrigal said.

Villar, meanwhile, denied paying any money to the senators who signed the resolution clearing his name.

"Jamby thinks that everything I've accomplished is because of money. Maybe it's because that is her life. I worked hard for my money. I don't know where Senator Jamby got the idea but none of the senators who signed got a single peso from me. It's called pakikisama," he said.

No stopping presidential bid

Madrigal, meanwhile, said that unlike Legarda, her ambition to run for president in 2010 is fueled by a genuine love for country and the Filipino people.

She added that she wanted to give Filipinos another choice even if she doesn't win the election.

 "If I love myself and only my career and ambition then I will not run because I'm a sure winner in the Senate. Yung pagmamahal sa bayan at sa taong bayan. Na mabigyan naman sila ng alternatibong plataporma, isusugal ko ang lahat para sa taong bayan,” she said.