MANILA - Senator Jinggoy Estrada is taking back his signature from the resolution clearing Senator Manuel Villar of any wrongdoing, in the C-5 road extension controversy.

Estrada and some senators said they would have not signed the document, had they known it would be prematurely released.

He was scheduled to make a manifestation in Wednesday’s Senate session, but a lack of quorum prevented him from speaking out.

“I would have manifested that I would have to withdraw my signature from Senate Resolution 1472,” Estrada told reporters.

Estrada was referring to the resolution signed by 12 senators absolving Senator Manny Villar of unethical conduct arising from his pushing for the C-5 road extension project.

Estrada admitted being upset by speculations he cleared Villar in exchange for being a guest senatorial candidate of the Villar-led Nacionalista Party.

“That is totally untrue. That has nothing to do with my signature with the rest of the resolution,” he said.

Estrada lamented the violation of the previous agreement to release the resolution only after the Senate has come up with the results of the Villar ethics case.

Asked whom did he have an agreement with, Estrada said it was “Senator Villar himself.”

On Tuesday, Senator Francis Pangilinan, another signatory to the resolution, said it was Villar who asked him to sign the resolution.

A Senate source said Villar also sought the support of Senator Antonio Trillanes III, but the detained senator refused to sign the resolution.

Amid the tension spawned by Senate Resolution 1472, Villar’s allies demanded the immediate resolution of the ethics case.

“To solve this once and for all, where is the report of the Committee of the Whole? Rush it because it’s the Christmas season. It’s not fair also to anyone,” Villar ally Senator Joker Arroyo said.

“Ang committee report dina-draft na yan. Ang tingin namin, pag resume ng session sa December 1, kaya namin i-tackle ang committee report sa floor,” Senate Ethics Committee Chair Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

But Estrada maintained his belief in Villar’s innocence and will most likely vote in support of his ally.

If no one else withdraws for Senate Resolution 1472, then Villar might still escape a conviction in the end. Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News