Friendship with Erap remains intact – Binay

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada’s friendship remains intact.

Binay reiterated yesterday that no amount of disagreement will make him and Estrada part ways.

The Vice President earlier confirmed that he had a disagreement with Estrada after he refused to approve the mayor’s request to redevelop the Central Market in Manila.

Binay said that he and Estrada met last Thursday but failed to iron out their differences.

The disagreement stemmed from Estrada’s plan to redevelop the Central Market in Sta. Cruz.

The city of Manila has no rights over the property after its ownership was transferred to the Home Guaranty Corp., which is under the Housing Urban Development and Coordinating Council headed by Binay.

It provides guarantees for loans that bankroll government projects.

Estrada earlier confirmed that he had walked out on a meeting with Binay after the latter refused a Manila government public-private partnership with SM Development Corp. to rebuild the Central Market into a three-level structure with a grocery on the ground level and roof-deck parking.

Binay had advised Estrada that all actions pertaining to the sale of the Old Bilibid Compound – a huge parcel of land to which the Central Market property is a part of – have to be reviewed by the Department of Finance and must undergo public bidding.

Under the deal, the city government will not spend a single centavo as the SM Development Corp. will shoulder all the cost for the redevelopment of the market.

The Central Market is presently situated in a 7,640 square meter lot with an appraised value of P316 million.

Binay expressed hope that their differences will be resolved soon. 

“It’s just a minor disagreement between friends. We have been together for a very long time. I owe President Erap a lot. I will not become vice president had he not taken me as his tandem (in the 2010 elections),” he said.

Binay said that he treasures his friendship with Estrada.

“We have been friends and allies for a very long time. Things that happened recently will not be a reason for us to part ways and to forget our friendship,” he added.

Demolition job

Meanwhile, Binay said he is expecting a series of demolition job against his family to derail his presidential bid in 2016.

In an interview with Boy Abunda and Kris Aquino on Friday, Binay said a well-organized demolition team is out to discredit the Binays.

The Vice President said the issue involving his son, Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and the security guards of an exclusive village in the city has been magnified by his detractors.

Earlier, Sen. Nancy Binay was criticized for realigning P300 million of her pork barrel allocations to augment the funds of the National Housing Authority, which is under the supervision of her father.