Villa's daring, impetuosity and horsemanship made him an idol of the masses, especially in northern Mexico. But he was also guilty of numerous attacks on defenseless people, and that part of Villa's life prompted many to question Governor Babbitt's wisdom in accepting the statue.

Among the critics is Bernardo R. Acedo, a 35-year-old student of bilingual education at the University of Arizona. Mr. Acedo, a native of Douglas, Ariz., said: ''People here consider Villa a hero, but he's not. He staged a massacre at San Pedro de la Cueva, Sonora. A hero to me is someone who gives his life to save other people. What Villa did was the opposite.''

A monument stands in the plaza at San Pedro de la Cueva, honoring the 74 men killed by Villa and his men on Dec. 1, 1915, according to Mr. Acedo. His grandfather is among them.

Another Tucsonian, Byron Ivancovich, a retired businessman who is suing to prevent the use of city land for the statue, called it ''an affront'' because ''Pancho Villa was a murderer and a tyrant to his own people.'' Mayor Boycotts Ceremony

Responding to the controversy, Mayor Lew Murphy of Tucson boycotted the event and advised City Council members that ''if you're smart, you won't attend either.''