Alphaland exec refuses to open bank account of firm allegedly used for Binay kickback

An official of property developer Alphaland Corp. on Wednesday refused to open for scrutiny the bank account of a firm allegedly used to funnel the kickback for Vice President Jejomar Binay from a land deal entered into with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP).

 

During the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on accusations against Binay, who is also the BSP's national president, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano asked Alphaland president Mario Oreta if he is willing to waive the Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits and open the bank account of Noble Care Management Corp.

 

Noble Care, which Oreta owns, was allegedly used as a repository for Binay’s kickback from a joint venture between BSP and Alphaland.

 

Oreta also said he would neither confirm nor deny the withdrawal of millions of pesos from the Noble Care account on the same day.

 

Late last month, former Makati City Vice Mayor Mercado accused Binay of getting P200 million in kickbacks from the deal between BSP and Alphaland. 

 

Mercado claimed that based on the contract between BSP and Alphaland, the BSP was supposed to receive P600 million from the development of a one-hectare property donated by BF Goodrich Philippines –now Sime Darby Pilipinas Inc. – to BSP in 1976. 

 

The former Makati vice mayor said that up to now the BSP has yet to receive its share from the property development, while Binay allegedly has already received P200 million from the deal.

 

Mercado also alleged that Binay used the supposed kickbacks to fund his vice-presidential bid in 2010.

 

Earlier in the hearing, Mercado said Binay’s kickbacks from the land deal could have even reach over P600 million. 

 

Binay’s camp has already denied Mercado’s allegations.

 

The BSP also earlier denied entering into an anomalous contract with Alphaland for the development of the one-hectare property in Makati City 

 

Oreta also belied Mercado’s accusations, saying that it was the ex-vice mayor who asked for the kickbacks. The property developer has also lodged a P100-million damage suit against Mercado. – VS, GMA News