Binay formally invited to Senate probe on Makati building

MANILA, Philippines - Former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado’s testimony yesterday that the Binay family received a 13 percent commission on all infrastructure projects in the city has caused the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee to formally invite Vice President Jejomar Binay to appear before the hearing on the alleged overpriced annex building of the Makati City Hall.

Blue Ribbon subcommittee chairman Aquilino  Pimentel III said Binay must attend the hearing to clear his name over corruption allegations.

“It would be up to Vice President Binay to accept the invitation,” he said.

The next hearing  on Sept. 25 will be devoted to Vice President Binay for him to get a chance to explain himself, Pimentel said.

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Alan Peter Cayetano also urged the vice president to come and testify to defend himself.

Testifying under oath, Mercado implicated   former Makati mayor Elenita Binay, Mayor Junjun Binay and Sen. Nancy Binay in the alleged racket at City Hall when the vice president was mayor.

Mrs. Binay received P1.9 million to P2.4 million in kickbacks from garbage collection in the city, he added.

Mercado said the late Makati city engineer Nestor Morales prepared three separate sports bags allegedly containing cash for then Councilor Binay, a certain Ebeng Baloloy and Gerry Limlingan.

Morales was killed in an ambush in September 2012 in Albay.

Baloloy was a trusted, longtime secretary of Vice President Binay and Limlingan was his campaign manager, he added.

Mercado brought three identical gray and black sports bags to the hearing with taped initials - “J”, “E” and “G.” Cash amounting between P1.5 million to P2 million each were placed in those bags for the Binays, he added.

Mercado said he personally delivered the bags of cash to then councilor Binay, then Mayor Binay, and  to “Ate Ebeng” for the personal budget of then Mayor Binay and Limlingan.

At times, he brought the commissions for councilor Junjun Binay to his office on the 18th floor of  City Hall or at the office of his father, he added.

Mercado said councilor Binay received the bag, oftentimes in full view and with the knowledge of the mayor.

The delivery of commissions to Limlingan was done personally or at times sent through his driver or sent to his car, depending on the circumstances, he added.

Speaking after the hearing, Senator Binay branded as lies the testimony of Mercado.

“I deny in the strongest possible terms the latest allegations made against our name,” she said. “It’s easy to concoct stories that have no basis.”

Senator Binay said as a daughter, she is pained by Mercado’s allegations against her and her entire family, as he was her wedding godfather.

“However hard this is, we remain focused in serving the people,” she said. “We have faith in God that He will allow the truth to come out.”

Her father will answer the allegations at the proper forum, Senator Binay said.

The Blue Ribbon subcommittee has issued subpoenas for Mayor Binay, Baloloy and   Limlingan.

Meanwhile, during yesterday’s hearing, Efren Canlas and Robert Henson, chairman of the board and president of Hillmarc’s Construction Corp., were warned that the full force of the law will be imposed against their firm if they refuse to cooperate in the Blue Ribbon subcommittee’s investigation.

Trillanes said Hillmarc’s officials will face charges if they continue to protect the Binays.

Canlas said their projects with the Makati City government, including the Makati Science High School, construction of the  new Ospital ng Makati and Nursing buildings are all aboveboard. – With Jose Rodel Clapano