‘Tagaytay mansion’ still in Binay's name but has been sold - assessor

A piece of property in Alfonso, Cavite has been found to be under Vice President Jejomar Binay's name, not long after a piggery and flower farm in Rosario, Batangas that he supposedly owns was revealed at a Senate hearing.

However, Alfonso's municipal assessor Susan Fenol said a construction company has already purchased the lot from Binay, but  the property is still under the Vice President's name because the title has not yet been transferred. 

According to the real property tax declaration from the municipal assessor's office of Alfonso town, Binay acquired the property located in Barangay Luksuhin in Ilaya, Alfonso from Cecilia Diwa on April 17, 1998.



GMA News "24 Oras" reported Thursday that the property consists of a rest house and a 993-square meter lot. It has a tropical modern design and a Bali-inspired garden. Its main gate is made of wood attached to posts filled with Mactan tiles. The roof has a gutterless shingle design.

Fenol said the construction firm has been working with them for the past three months to fix the property's title.

She added: "Nag-fill out na po ng bagong sworn statement ang bagong may-ari na korporasyon pero hindi pa po siya bumabalik. Siguro, pina-process pa po 'yung transfer."

According to Binay's spokesman Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, the vice president has documents confirming the sale of the Alfonso property.

The municipal assessor's office of Alfonso, Cavite has said it is willing to work with the Senate regarding the matter.

When GMA News reporter Emil Sumangil visited the property, the security guard refused to talk to him. There were also construction workers moving in and out of the rest house, but no one was willing to disclose who owns the house.

The report quoted the caretakers of the neighboring properties as saying it is common knowledge that Binay owns the property.

Property no longer in Binay's SALN

According to Binay's Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) in 1998, he owned a piece of property in Alfonso, Cavite with an acquisition cost of P3 million. It was noted that he acquired the property in 1994 "thru acknowledgement of services and deed of cession."

Former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado mentioned during the Senate hearing Wednesday that the Tagaytay mansion represented payment made to Binay after winning a case when he was still a lawyer.

The property was listed in his SALN until 2011, but was no longer included in his 2012 and 2013 SALNs. — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News