BY PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA – Vice President Jejomar Binay benefited from the alleged overpricing of the P2.75-billion Makati City Hall car park building, according to his former vice mayor.
Ex-Makati City vice mayor Ernesto Mercado also admitted receiving kickbacks from Phases 1 and 2 of the building’s construction.
“Kung ang vice mayor nakinabang, siguro higit na nakinabang ang mayor dito (If the vice mayor benefited from the project, more so the mayor),” Mercado said at the Senate blue ribbon committee investigation into the controversial 11-storey building yesterday morning.
In a statement issued hours later, Binay said Mercado was lying.
He also said his former vice mayor, who lost to his son in the 2010 election, should be “charged by the authorities” because he admitted receiving kickbacks.
Mercado served as vice mayor from 2007 to 2010 when Binay was then Makati City’s mayor.
The building in question was constructed in 2007 and completed only last year.
“Imposibleng hindi nakinabanag ang mayor (It’s impossible that the mayor did not benefit from the project),” Mercado told senators yesterday.
Mercado said the building was supposed to cost P1.2 billion only, with the said amount already covering payments for the architectural fee and furniture.
“Na-shock ako sa P2.7-billion cost,” he said.
The Senate blue ribbon committee has been urged to invite Binay to the next scheduled investigation.
“The Senate is being used to malign my name and that of my family’s to advance personal ambition,” said the Vice President.
In his official Twitter account, @VPJojoBinay, he wrote, “Some of these senators have revealed their ambition to run in 2016, especially for the presidency and vice presidency.”
Among the senators present in the blue ribbon committee hearing yesterday were Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV. Both previously announced their interest to seek a higher position in 2016.
The Vice President, who is poised to run for president in 2016, said he has “not received nor asked money from this (Makati car park) project or any other project in Makati.”
Mercado described his relationship with Binay as “higit pa sa magkapatid” (more than brothers) before their falling out in 2010.
Their relationship turned sour when he refused to become a “rubber stamp” of the Binays, he said.
“Kung ako naging masamang vice mayor, 2001 pa lang mayor na ako. Nagbago pakikitungo niya sa akin ‘nung sinabi niya na ‘Pare, payag na si Dra. Binay na mayor ka, basta wala kang tatanggaling empleyado,” said Mercado.
Mercado said he refused such condition.
Incumbent Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay was not present in yesterday’s hearing.
NANCY: I’M NO BAKER
Meanwhile, Sen. Nancy Binay, daughter of the Vice President, denied she supplied the alleged overpriced cakes that the city government of Makati gave to senior citizens celebrating their birthdays.
Mercado claimed the lady legislator managed the distribution of the cakes when her mother, Dr. Elenita Sombillo-Binay, served as mayor from 1998 to 2001.
Senator Binay was the former lady mayor’s “technical assistant,” said Mercado.
“While I wish I can bake, I do not know how to bake. I do not have a bakeshop. Why would I supply cakes to city hall? That is prohibited,” said the senator.
She denied involvement in the alleged overpricing of the birthday cakes.
“I have never been involved, and will never be involved in any activity that violates rules on conflict of interest particularly in businesses relating to the Makati City government and/or the national government,” said Senator Binay.
The newbie senator described Mercado’s claim as “malicious.”
The Makati City Hall earlier clarified that the real price of the cakes was P306.75 each, not P1,000 as previously claimed by Atty. Renato Bondal who had filed plunder charges against Vice President Binay and his mayor son for the alleged overpricing of the parking building./PN
