MANILA -- Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Manny Villar found himself at the receiving end of verbal attacks from his political rivals during a presidential debate Monday.

Leading the pack was Villar’s staunchest critic Senator Jamby Madrigal, who is running as an independent candidate. Most of her responses in the “1st Edition” debate sponsored by the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines Main Theater were targeted towards the NP presidential bet.

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Ang Kapatiran bet Subic Councilor JC delos Reyes also hit the popular line in one of Villar's campaign songs “tunay na mahirap,” while Bagumbayan candidate Senator Richard "Dick" Gordon lambasted Villar's refusal to be interpolated in the Senate about the C-5 road extension controversy.

Madrigal, when asked whether political ads centered on catchy phrases “with no substance” contribute to the dumping down of votes, said: “I agree completely. The jingles, the use of children, the use of actors who you have to pay P30 million just to endorse you is an insult to the Filipino intelligence, that's why I have chosen to respect the law and not out political ads before. People who have spent P2 billion in ads who think they can buy Malacañang have no right to be president.”

Her response was met with applause all throughout.

One of Villar's television advertisements featured kids singing his “tunay na mahirap” song. Another featured Comedy King Rodolfo "Dolphy" Quizon.

Villar earlier denied that he paid the veteran actor P30 million to endorse him.

Pam Pastor, head of the Youth Section of debate sponsor Philippine Daily Inquirer, asked Madrigal if she can say anything good about Villar.

“Maganda po yung pagtina ng buhok niya (The way his hair is dyed is nice),” she said.

Madrigal did not stop at the issue of campaign style and also dragged Villar into it when asked how she would address nutrition issues such as the proliferation of junk food and softdrinks in Filipino kids' diet.

She said the Senate could have passed the bill advocating breast milk, which could be a solution to nutrition problem, for infants zero to two years old but failed due to the "boycott of Minority."

“It could have passed if not for the very inconsiderate minority. My heart bleeds. We could have saved 20 percent of mortality due to diarrhea... This is a pro-poor bill… that again, was blocked by the Minority,” she said.

The Senate adjourned on its last day of session without passing any single bill due to lack of quorum.

Meanwhile, Gordon said the political maturity of the voters can be measured if former President Joseph Estrada, who failed to attend the debate, wins.

“Pwede pa ba yang pa-cute cute natin sa mga tao? Advertising na maka-mahirap na sinasabing maka-mahirap na makikitang ang record ay hindi maka-mahirap?” he asked.

Gordon also said the voters must not vote for a candidate who cannot face up to his accountability.

For his part, Delos Reyes said he would engage in politics in a different way if he had Villar's money.

“If you are to serve, there should be a message that conveys principles and platform and not empty campaign messages that just says ‘ako ang mahirap.’ It destroys the values of the youth and destroys idealism," he said.

Villar, after the debate, said he is happy that Madrigal finally said something nice about him.

“Totoo naman. I thank my barber,” he said.

He also considers the bashing as a compliment.

“It's really like that when you're leading. That’s okay. We're reader. I consider it a compliment. This is better than not being noticed," he said.

Some of the most applauded moments in the debate includes Lakas-Kampi-CMD bet Gilbert Teodoro's answer to rank who he will help in case President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, his uncle businessman Danding Cojuangco, and mother-in-law Mary Beth Lopez de Leon goes to jail for a crime.

“Of course, the mother-in-law is very important. Without mother, there is no daughter. Without the daughter, there is no wife,” he said.

“However, to save them from prison, we each have our own legal outlook and have our rights under the law. As I said, the mother-in-law and then the rest are equal. I shall not interfere,” added Teodoro.

Liberal Party standard bearer Noynoy Aquino said popular sister Kris Aquino's influence will only go as far as his clothing style.

“If she was alive, my mother will be first to tell you that I speak my mind. I am open to opinions even if they are completely against mine,” he said.

Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas and Jesus Is Lord leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva also attended the event.

The debate was divided into three panels with three members each, with each panel doing three rounds of questioning.

The topics were divided into law and politics, social issues and economics, and budget.

The panel was composed of Inquirer columnists Dean Raul Pangalangan, Fr. Joaquin Bernas and Inquirer senior reporter Fe Zamora; columnists Rina Jimenez-David and Prof. Michael Tan and Inquirer youth section editor Pam Pastor; columnist Dr. Cielito Habito, Inquirer opinion editor Jorge Aruta, and Inquirer business editor Raul Marcelo.

Only Estrada was unable to attend. His spokesperson Margaux Salcedo issued a statement on the failure of the former President to join the debate.

“Various delegations from all over the country have sought an audience with former President Joseph Estrada today at the PMP headquarters, including delegations from as far as Lanao del Sur and other parts of Mindanao, which President Estrada had to prioritize, for which reason former President Estrada was not able to attend the forum of the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines this morning,” Salcedo said. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)