Palace denies hand in Binays' graft indictment

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang denied on Tuesday that it influenced the Office of the Ombudsman in indicting Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay.

"The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent constitutional body over which the executive branch has neither authority or jurisdiction," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.

"This administration has always adhered to the rule of law and it is best that those involved address the case or cases they face before the appropriate forum," he added.

On Monday, the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to charge the two Binays with multiple counts of graft and malversation of public funds through falsification of public documents before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged role in the overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II from 2007 to 2013.

Also indicted before the anti-graft court were 22 other current and former government officials and private individuals.

The Ombudsman had said the Binays and their co-respondents committed flagrant anomalies in the design and construction of the building.

Documents supposedly show that the Binays approved the bids and awards committee resolutions, notices of awards, contracts and payments using unnumbered/undated disbursement vouchers and obligation requests.

The Binay camp cried foul over the Ombudsman's indictment order, saying it was meant to stop the vice president's presidential bid. - Louis Bacani