VP Binay accuser exposes UMak scam
MANILA — Vice President Jejomar Binay is facing another corruption allegation as the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee resumed its hearing yesterday.
Lawyer Renato Bondal accused Binay of benefiting from the P1.2 billion worth building of the University of Makati (UMak) College of Nursing.
The lawyer questioned the joint venture between UMak and Systems Technology Institute (STI) in December 2003 for the building, adding that there was no public bidding done for the project during the term of Binay as Makati City mayor.
Bondal insisted that Makati did not need to enter a joint venture with STI since the local government allots P2 billion every year for UMak.
According to Bondal, the quality of education in UMak was also declining while Binay continues to earn from the college.
"Ang performance ng mga estudyante ay hindi nag-iimprove pero ang kita nila tuloy-tuloy taon-taon," Bondal told the Senate panel.
The tuition in UMak currently costs P1,000 per year for Makati residents while non-residents have to pay P23,000 to P37,000.
Bondal claimed that Binay earns from the tax dividends of Philippine Healthcare Educators, Inc. which manages the tuition in UMak College of Nursing.
The lawyer also accused Jack Arroyo, nephew of former Senator Joker Arroyo and one of the shareholders of the college, of being the Vice President's dummy.
"Kung titignan po ninyo halimbawa sa P10 million, 40 percent ang UMak. So ang nakuha niya ay P4 million, 40 percent ang STI, nakuha ng STI P4 million. May dalawang milyong natitira, kukunin naman' yun ni Jack Arroyo at ipapasa kay Vice President Binay kasi dummy lang naman siya ni Binay," Bondal alleged.
Senator Aquino "Koko" Pimentel III urged Bondal to further substantiate his claims while Senator Antonio Trillanes IV moved to invite Jack Arroyo for the next hearing scheduled on May 11. (Philippine STAR News Service)