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Elevator in Mayor Binay's home was for pregnant wife – Binays


Makati Mayor Junjun Binay has defended his purchase of a home with an elevator saying it was meant to help his wife through a difficult pregnancy.
 
In a statement, Binay spokesman Joey Salgado said the house was bought from a senior citizen who had had the elevator installed.
 
"Nagka-interes si mayor sa bahay dahil, at that time, may medical condition ang kanyang asawa at hindi na halos makalakad," he said in a "24 Oras" report aired Thursday evening.
 
 
Vice President Jejomar Binay, the mayor's father, said the same thing. 
 
"Sinasabi ko na sa inyo, 'yun ay isang dahilan kung bakit napag-isipan ni Mayor Junjun 'yun. Para sa asawa niya. Ang malungkot dun, namatay na nga sa panganganak," he said.
 
Mayor Binay's wife died in childbirth in 2009.
 
The elevator in Mayor Binay's home was mentioned at a Senate hearing on Wednesday by lawyer Renato Bondal, who has accused Binay of overpricing in the construction of Makati city government building.
 
During the hearing, the lawyer said: "Siguro, mas maganda pa yung elevator sa bahay ni Mayor Junjun kesa diyan sa ginamit sa Makati Parking Building."
 
Previously, Bondal accused the Binays of overpricing the construction of the 11-storey Makati City Hall Building 2 by 300 percent or by P2 billion.
 
The younger Binay defended the expense of the building, saying, "It is like comparing apples to oranges. Ang City Hall Building 2 ay isang dream office building. It is of world-class quality… It is designed to withstand earthquakes with certain level of intensity."
 
At the same hearing, Bondal brought up the free cakes the Makati mayor gives to senior citizens on their birthdays, saying they were unreasonably overpriced.
 
Supposedly costing up to P1,000 each, "24 Oras" showed a purchase order from Makati City Administrator Eleno Mendoza for 53,950 cakes purchased by the LGU last Feb. 20 only cost a total of P16 million or P306 each. — Rie Takumi/JDS, GMA News
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