Sandiganbayan acquits ex-VP Binay, others in P2.2 billion Makati carpark case

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son and former Makati mayor Erwin Binay and other individuals of charges in connection with the P2.2-billion Makati City carpark project.

In a decision promulgated on Friday, August 22, the anti-graft court acquitted Binay and his son of malversation of public funds as well as multiple counts of graft and falsification of public documents.

According to the Sandiganbayan, the prosecution “miserably failed to prove the required quantum of evidence in all these cases” against Binay and the others.

The former vice president was cleared of one count of malversation, four counts of graft and nine counts of falsification of public documents.

His son, Erwin, was also acquitted of one count of malversation, three counts of graft and six counts of falsification of public documents.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft court also ordered the dismissal of the cases against Emerito Calayag Magat, Cecilio Lim III and Manolito Nabartey Uyaco due to their deaths.

The following are the other co-accused of the Binays who were acquitted:

Marjorie Aguinaldo de Veyra, Pio Kenneth Ilano Dasal, and Lorenza Punzalan Amores were found not guilty of falsification of public documents (Article 171, Revised Penal Code) in multiple cases, violation of Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019 in several cases, and malversation of public funds in one case.

The following co-accused were also cleared of various charges of falsification of public documents, violation of Section 3(e) of RA 3019, and malversation of public funds. All these individuals were either found not guilty or had their demurrer to evidence granted, effectively clearing them of their respective charges:

• Gerardo Kangleon San Gabriel
• Rodel Rebustillo Nayve
• Line Macatangay Dela Peña
• Connie Nicol Consulta
• Nelia Argana Barlis
• Efren Mercado Canlas
• Virginia Santos Hernandez
• Mario Valenzuela Badillo
• Leonila de Guzman Querijero
• Raydes Barias Pestaño
• Orlando M. Mateo
• Giovanni Ilio Condes
• Norman Domingo Flores
• Arnel Lamusao Cadangan
• Ulysses Estanislao Orienza
• Eleno Mendoza

In January, the anti-graft court also cleared Binay and his son of graft over the P1.3 billion Makati Science High School project.