Binay: I’m not evading charges on Semirara

Former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Jejomar Binay yesterday said he has no intentions of running away from graft charges filed against him inspite of his recent resignation. The charges were filed by Gideon Javier, son of Antique Governor Exequiel Javier, over the alleged release of P90 million to the Semirara landfill contractors as "advance payment."

Also named respondent in the complaint was Robert Aventajado, then chair of the Greater Metro Manila Solid Waste Management Committee.

Binay said that no such amount, or any other amount for that matter, was ever released by the MMDA for that purpose.

He said this fact can easily be checked at the MMDA office. "I don’t know where he got that information. This is another clear case of people easily making quick accusations without first verifying the facts," Binay fumed.

As for the alleged violation of Republic Act 7588, the law governing the country’s national parks, wildlife and marine sanctuaries, Binay stated that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had issued an "operational clearance" for the operation of the landfill site in Semirara.

That clearance, he explained, rendered the proposed operation of the landfill site in the island legal and proper.

He further said that because of the restraining order issued by the Antique court, not a single piece of garbage was ever dumped on the site as alleged by Javier.

"We have always worked within the bounds of the law. When the TRO was issued, we respected it and refrained from dumping garbage in the site," Binay said. The residents of Antique themselves who were at the site, he added, would be the best witnesses to testify that dumping of garbage at Semirara never occurred.

He lamented the fact that even now, as the plan to use Semirara had already been shelved, there are still certain quarters who use the issue to gain political mileage by prolonging it. Javier is widely perceived in Antique as preparing to run for public office in the coming May elections.