Camille Villar on political dynasty issue: We won’t waste public’s trust

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial hopeful Camille Villar on Friday addressed the political dynasty issue being raised against her family and vowed to continue the legacy of their clan so as not to disappoint her parents.

In an ambush interview before she filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator, Villar was asked to comment on the public’s branding of their family as an example of a political dynasty in the country.

“Para naman po sa akin, basta inihahalal po tayo ng ating mga kababayan, binibigyan tayo ng tiwala [at] dapat hindi natin sinasayang ‘yan. So talagang taus-puso akong nagpapasalamat sa tiwala at suporta na ibinigay po ng ating mga kababayan sa aming pamilya,” said Villar.

(As for me, as long as our countrymen elect and give us their trust, [we] should not waste that. So I am truly grateful from the bottom of my heart for the trust and support that our countrymen have given to our family.)

According to the senatorial hopeful who is presently Las Piñas’ lone district representative, she was advised by her parents — former Senate President Manny Villar and outgoing Sen. Cynthia Villar — not to disappoint the family name.

“Sisiguraduhin ko po, ibinilin po ‘yan sa amin ng aming magulang na huwag silang i-disappoint at magta-trabaho po ako para matulungan ng lahat ng nangangailangan kasi syempre, those are the values na itinuro ng aming mga magulang sa amin: [Ang] magsipag, magtiyaga, at tumulong sa mga nangangailangan,” she added.

(I will make sure because our parents taught us not to disappoint them and I will work to help everyone in need because of course, those are the values our parents taught us: work hard, persevere, and help those in need.)

Earlier, Camille’s mother Sen. Cynthia was asked if she considered her family a political dynasty, to which she answered that they are a “good dynasty.”

READ: Sen. Villar: We are a ‘good dynasty’

Meanwhile, Camille’s father served as the former speaker of the House of Representatives before he was elected senator in 2001.

In July 2006, with the staunch support of a majority of his colleagues, Manny assumed the Senate presidency during the third regular session of the 13th Congress.

At present, Camille’s mother and brother Mark are sitting as incumbent senators.

Should Camille’s senatorial bid prosper, she would replace her mother who is now among the graduating lawmakers in the upper chamber.

Camille is included in the administration’s Senate slate. She filed her COC for senator at the Manila Hotel’s Tent City on the fourth day of filing for the 2025 midterm polls.