Junjun charged with graft over parking building
Two weeks after announcing it found probable cause to charge him in court, the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. with the Sandiganbayan yesterday for his alleged role in the overpriced construction of the city hall’s Parking Building 2.
Aside from Binay, those also charged with graft and malversation of public funds were city government officials and employees Marjorie de Veyra, Pio Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Virginia Hernandez, Line dela Peña, Mario Badillo, Leonila Querijero, Raydes Pestaño, Nelia Barlis, Cecilio Lim III, Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat, Connie Consulta, Ulysses Orienza, Giovanni Condes, Manolito Uyaco, Norman Flores, Gerardo San Gabriel, Eleno Mendoza, Jr. and Rodel Nayve.
Also included in the indictment were Orlando Mateo from Mana Architecture and Interior Design, Co. and Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Co.
Binay and his fellow respondents were also charged with falsification of public documents in connection with alleged anomalies surrounding the project, done in phases from 2007 to 2013.
Ombudsman prosecutors filed the charges with the anti-graft court after the cases were raffled off, which is usually done on Friday mornings.
Because the charges were filed late, they will be raffled off on Friday to one of the anti-graft court’s five divisions.
The Office of the Ombudsman has deferred the filing of charges against Vice President Jejomar Binay, the former mayor’s father, because he is immune from lawsuits until he steps down.
Ombudsman investigators said both father and son were involved in the irregularities, which include bidding and procurement law violations during the construction of the building, worth P2.2 billion.
The charges filed against the former mayor and his co-accused are bailable but the bail for each of the respondents is expected to reach P440,000 for the four counts of graft, six counts of falsification of public documents and five counts of malversation of public funds charges lodged against them.
Binay camp hits ombudsman
Meanwhile, the Vice President’s camp criticized the ombudsman following the filing of charges against the younger Binay.
“The bias and partiality of the ombudsman is beyond dispute,” said Rico Quicho, Binay’s campaign spokesperson. “It has played loose with the law and the Constitution in persecuting the Vice President and his family and those in the opposition.”
He said the Vice President will not be hindered by the political persecution and harassment directed at him.
On the other hand, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who is running for vice president, said should Binay win the presidential derby, his administration would be marked by instability due to the allegations of corruption hounding him.
“Because the evidence is so damning and there are so many issues, how can you focus on nation building?” he said during TV5’ s “Happy Hour” roundtable discussion.
He added that Binay, as president, could be blackmailed by those involved in corruption to grant them favors. –