Gen. Lim to Villar: Apologize for fake psychiatric report Rebel general says NP’s smear campaign is unwarranted, asks Villar to do a Manny Pangil

“Apologize.”

This is the simple unsolicited advice given by Brigadier General Danilo “Danny” Lim to Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel “Manny” Villar on the fake psychiatric report which claimed that Liberal party presidential bet Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was clinically depressed and smoked marijuana.

In a statement released on Monday, the detained general said a simple apology from Villar could give immediate closure to this issue. He urged the NP standard-bearer to replicate the humility of another “Manny”, who he said, “took the responsibility of owing up to his indiscretion.”

“I urge Senator Villar to do a Manny Pangilinan,” Lim said. “A true national leader is capable of acknowledging when he is at fault, whether he or his people caused the transgression. As such, I ask, can Villar do that? Can he swallow his pride and admit wrongdoing?

Lim said the mere fact that institutions such as ABS-CBN and Ateneo De Manila University already confirmed that the alleged psychiatric analysis of Aquino was fake and was sourced from the NP are enough reasons for Villar to seek apology and owe responsibility.

“Instead of cashing in on this propped up controversy which is only wasting our time and hurting many people, Villar should be responsible enough to order his people to stop from further escalating the issue,” Lim said.

Lim is reacting to the Villar camp’s statement on Sunday challenging Aquino to address the issues contained in the fake psychiatric report.

“It flies in the face of logic. To begin with, the document is a forgery. So how could somebody respond to such a report without making a fool of himself? Naturally, Noynoy will not dignify this,” Lim said.

Lim who is also running for senator in the May polls appealed for sobriety. He said instead of engaging in mudslinging, candidates especially those seeking the presidency should engage in a passionate and communicative “platform brawl.”

“As a substitute for mudslinging and empty bravado, I strongly suggest we focus our energies in elevating the level of the electoral discourse. Let’s talk about real issues, concrete platforms and policy proposals,” Lim asserted.

The bemedalled soldier said candidates resorting heavily to black propaganda and smear campaigns are those who are incapable of firm reasoning and democratic persuasion. He said the Filipino voters deserve “better exchanges from better candidates.”

“Let’s prove to the voting public we are deserving of their votes. Let’s be the candidates they want us to be,” Lim said.

Lim also challenged all presidential candidates to make public their plan on how to restore good democratic governance after Mrs. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s nine-year misrule. He particularly issued the challenge to Villar who recently was bombarded with accusations that he is Arroyo’s secret candidate.

“I suggest Villar put more energy in disproving this accusation instead of the fake Aquino psychiatric report. The VillArroyo tag will not go way by simply dismissing it. The only way to repudiate it is for the NP presidential bet to set the record straight on how he will make Arroyo accountable for her crimes against the people. Again I ask, is Villar up to it?” Lim ended.