Renato de Villa

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Renato de Villa (born September 1, 1935) is a political figure in the Philippines and founder of the rightist Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma-Lapiang Manggagawa Party.

De Villa served as Chief of Constabulary and Director-General of the Integrated National Police in 1986 and was concurrent Vice-Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in 1987. In 1988, he was promoted to Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces by President Corazon Aquino. In 1989, he was one who defended President Corazon Aquino against coup plots in Manila by Gregorio Honasan's RAM and the siege of an army camp by Rizal Alih in Zamboanga City. In 1991, Fidel Ramos resigns as Defense secretary to run for president. Aquino appointed de Villa as his replacement. When Ramos won as President in 1992, he reappointed de Villa to the post.

In 1997, he resigned as Defense secretary and made his bid for the presidency. He joined Lakas-NUCD the same year to get Ramos' endorsement. In December that year, Ramos chose Jose de Venecia as the official candidate of the party. De Villa bolted the party and formed his own party called Partido ng Demokratikong Reporma (Democratic Reform Party) and formed an alliance with Lapiang Manggagawa (Labor Organization). He chose Pangasinan Governor Oscar Orbos as his running mate and brought rebel members of Lakas to his party. Many criticized his actions, most of whom think that he basically cloned Ramos' career (Ramos done the same when he lost the nomination of the LDP). In the May 11 elections, he lost to Vice President Joseph Estrada and placed sixth overall in a field of 11 candidates.

De Villa reappeared in 2001 when the second EDSA People Power Revolution escalated and influenced active officers of the Armed Forces to withdraw support to President Joseph Estrada. When President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo assumed office, she appointed de Villa as her executive secretary. He resigned from the cabinet the succeeding year citing health conditions. In the 2004 elections, he formally withdrew alliance with Arroyo and endorsed Raul Roco as president. His party did not fill any candidates other than what was endorsed by Roco. Roco however lost to the incumbent Arroyo in the elections.

In July 2005, De Villa was speculated to be picked as transition president if in case the opposition successfully ousted President Arroyo and Vice President Noli de Castro from their positions and form a revolutionary government. Those plans did not happen when the Arroyo impeachment was dismissed in the House of Representatives.

[edit] Criticism

De Villa is often criticized for his "weak leadership" due to his history as a hesitant military officer. A case of his hesitation included the failed military attempt to kill or capture Rizal Alih in the 1989 Zamboanga City siege. Some analysts say that de Villa's candidacy for president in 1998 was not a sincere effort but rather a push from certain rich Filipinos who sought his help to defend their interests.

The former general is also criticized for being a puppet of the Philippine elite, and it is common knowledge that he is greatly supported by the influential Ayala family of business leaders.

Over the Hello Garci scandal of 2005, some people accused de Villa of supporting an effort to destabilize the nation although it is clear that he is not a part of the political opposition.