Elenita Binay pleads not guilty to graft, malversation

MANILA, Philippines — Former Makati mayor Elenita Binay has maintained her innocence in the allegedly anomalous procurement of medical equipment in 2000 and 2001.

Assisted by her lawyer Juan Carlos Mendoza, Binay pleaded not guilty to charges of graft and malversation of public funds during her arraignment at the Sandiganbayan on Friday.

Also arraigned were former city treasurer Luz Yamane-Garcia and former General Services Department (GSD) head Ernesto Aspillaga.

Four other defendants refused to enter plea. They were GSD medical section supply and property inspector Lilia Nonato, committee on canvass members Jaime delos Reyes and Conrado Pamintuan and Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) Obstetrics-Gynecology Department head Mabel Asunio.

The anti-graft court’s Fourth Division entered a not guilty plea on their behalf.

Filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2012, the cases stemmed from the supposedly anomalous procurement of two units of cyrosurgical machines with pressure pumps for OsMak.

The ombudsman said the supply contract was awarded to Apollo Equipment and Supplies without public bidding required under Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Law.

Ombudsman prosecutors said the city government paid Apollo P9.54 million even if the medical supplies were not delivered.

The ombudsman said Binay and the other defendants conspired in falsifying documents to make it appear that the transaction was consummated and above-board.