3 more ordered arrested in Senate probe on Binay

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 11 individuals have been ordered arrested by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee for their failure to attend the hearings being conducted by its subcommittee on the alleged anomalies involving Vice President Jejomar Binay.

During a meeting of the members of the Blue Ribbon committee yesterday, panel chairman Sen. Teofisto Guingona III ordered the immediate arrest of Jack Arroyo, Laureano Gregorio Jr. and Marguerite Lichnock for contempt.

The committee also reiterated the need to carry out the outstanding arrest orders against Erlina, Irish, Irene and Kim Tun Chong, James and Anne Lorraine Tiu, Gerardo Limlingan and Eduviges Baloloy.

Arroyo, an ophthalmologist, was implicated in the joint venture agreement between the University of Makati (UMak), Systems Technology Institute (STI) and Philippine Healthcare Educators Inc. for the management of UMak’s nursing school, which was allegedly anomalous.

Gregorio was the alleged owner of the Rosario, Batangas estate that was purchased by businessman Antonio Tiu, who was accused of being Binay’s dummy.

Lichnock is the wife of Limlingan and, just like her husband, was accused of being a front for the Vice President in various businesses not declared in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.

The Chongs are directors of Meriras Realty, the listed owner of a property in Barangay Comembo allegedly owned by the Vice President.

They are also the owners of Cups & Mugs Kitchenette, the previous supplier of birthday cakes for the senior citizens of Makati City.

There are six members of the Chong family who were ordered to attend the Senate hearings, but only two of them – Kimsfer and Imee – showed up.

James Tiu is the brother of Antonio Tiu and together with his wife Anne Lorraine, were reportedly the biggest campaign contributors of Sen. Nancy Binay in 2013.

In a letter addressed to the Blue Ribbon committee, the Tiu couple asked that they be excused from attending the hearings of the subcommittee, citing a threat on their lives.

Subcommittee chairman Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III did not buy the claims of the couple, saying that it was easy to make up stories.

Limlingan and Baloloy, two alleged bagmen of the Vice President, have been missing since the hearings of the subcommittee started in August last year.

A manhunt has been ordered against Limlingan with the National Bureau of Investigation as lead agency.

“The important thing is we have to enforce the orders of arrest so that the integrity, credibility and the efficiency of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee are maintained and preserved,” Pimentel said.– With Helen Flores