Junjun loses bid to junk P2.2-B raps
The Sandiganbayan has upheld its earlier ruling to put former Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. on trial in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the P2.2-billion Makati city hall parking building.
In a 34-page resolution promulgated on Sept. 25, released to the media yesterday, the court’s Third Division has upheld its April 18 ruling denying the respective motions of Binay and his eight co-accused praying for the dismissal of their cases.
The ruling was penned by Third Division chairman and Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo CabotajeTang, with Associate Justices Sarah Jane Fernandez and Bernelito Fernandez concurring.
Aside from Binay, the Third Division also dismissed the appeal of eight former city officials: budget officer Lorenza Amores, bids and awards committee secretariat head Manolito Uyaco, BAC technical working group chairman Rodel Nayve, city accountants Cecilio Lim III and Raydes Pestaño, city treasurer Nelia Barlis, acting city administrator Eleno Mendoza Jr. and city engineer Mario Badillo.
The court said the arguments raised by Binay and the other respondents were “mere rehash of the arguments they raised in their respective motions.”
Filed by the ombudsman last year, the charges against Binay involve two counts of graft and six counts of falsification of public documents. Named as his co-accused were 12 former city officials and Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Co.
The cases stemmed from the alleged rigged bidding and overpriced construction of the parking building.
In its new ruling, the court maintained that the ombudsman’s records show prima facie evidence that the awarding of the contract to Hilmarc’s was done through rigged bidding, and this would not have been done without the active participation of the city officials in conspiracy with Canlas.
The court set Binay’s arraignment on Oct. 20.
Binay Jr. is also named as a co-accused in two counts of graft and one count of malversation of public funds filed by the ombudsman against his father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, in July 2016, still in connection with the Makati parking building anomaly. Their arraignment for this case is scheduled today.