Nancy Binay received kickback for mom, Senate panel told

By AMITA O. LEGASPI, GMA News

Published September 11, 2014 6:46pm

Before she became senator, Nancy Binay at one time allegedly received bribe money meant for her mother, Dr. Elenita Binay, when the latter was mayor of Makati City, a former ally of the family said in a hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday.

Former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who accused former Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay of receiving a 13-percent kickback from every infrastructure project in the city, said even Elenita Binay had benefited from the alleged corruption.

Mercado said that on one occasion, Elenita Binay confronted him regarding the money that was meant for her. He recalled telling her that the money was delivered to their house, and it was received by Nancy Binay, now a senator.

“Sabi ko tinanong ko po kayo kung saan dapat ipadala ang pera nyo, ang sabi nyo sa akin ipadala sa bahay at ibigay kay Nancy. Si Senador Nancy po yun,” Mercado told the Senate hearing, which is looking into allegations of overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

In response, Nancy Binay later released a statement, saying Mercado's allegations against her family were "baseless."

She said she never received cash from Mercado, even when he stood as a principal sponsor in her wedding.

"The only time nga na binigyan niya ako ng regalo 'e nung wedding ko. Walang cash,” Nancy Binay said in a statement.

During the hearing, Mercado said he showed Elenita Binay a logbook which he and then-City Engineer Nelson Morales maintained to list down their cash deliveries. He said it was only then that Elenita Binay calmed down.

“E, di nawala yung galit niya sa akin at kay Engineer Morales dahil may patunay kami. May record kung saan tumanggap, pangalan ng tumanggap. Mabuti na lang po e nakaabswelto ako dun dahil ang pinagbibintangan e kami daw yung kumuha ng pera nila. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang usapan nilang mag-ina,” Mercado said.

He said the logbook is no longer with him. Mercado, who had a falling out with the Binay family in 2010, did not present any document at the Senate to substantiate his claims.

Garbage collection contract

Elenita Binay ran for mayor of Makati City in 1998 after constitutional term limits prevented Jejomar Binay from running for a fourth consecutive term. She won and served as mayor until 2001, when her husband took the reins of the city again for three more terms.

Mercado testified that Elenita Binay received as much as P2.4 million from the city’s garbage collection contract. He added that Elenita Binay also used to benefit from the alleged 900 ghost employees of the city hall, but her husband ordered that it be reduced to 300.

During the hearing, Mercado said the supposed kickback for Jejomar Binay was divided into three portions — one for Mayor Junjun Binay, Binay's son who was then a councilor; another for a certain Ebeng, supposedly Jejomar Binay’s assistant; and another for Gerry Limlingan, Jejomar Binay's finance officer.

Mercado said he personally delivered the money to the three men.

Binay, a strong contender in the 2016 presidential elections, and his son have been named respondents in a plunder complaint in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati building.

Mercado said Binay received some P52 million in Phase One alone. The questioned building was built in five phases.

Vice President Binay and his son have repeatedly denied the corruption allegations.

Senate being used vs. Binays?

In an interview with reporters before the start of Thursday's session, Nancy Binay said she was especially hurt that the person making the allegations is one of her wedding sponsors.

“Ninong ko nga yun. Yun ang nakakasakit kasi ginagawa niya ito sa akin, e kung tutuusin dapat pangalawang ama ko siya. Ninong ko siya sa kasal tapos ganito yung ginagawa niya sa akin, ginagawa nya sa aking pamilya,” she said.

“Marami na pong kwentong inimbento at iimbentuhin pa ang aming mga kalaban upang siraan ang aming pangalan. Madali pong mag-imbento ng mga kwento na walang basehan,” Binay said.

She lamented that the Senate was being used to "spread unfounded allegations" but added that their family would remain united in the face of the negative reports.

“It is hard that we all have to go through this just because my father wants to continue to serve the people," Nancy Binay said.

"Despite all this, I am doing my job and responsibilities as a senator of the Republic, just like my father. We remain focused in serving the people and working to uplift their lives,” she added.

On the invitation to be sent to her father to attend the hearing, she stressed that a Senate hearing was not the proper forum for the Vice President to give his side.

“Parang teleserye ito dahil nawawalan na ng interes ang tao e, kailangan nang papuntahin si Vice President,” Nancy Binay said.

In the interview with reporters, Binay also joked that Mercado could have been “possessed.”

“Siguro ipagdadasal ko na lang siya na ma-enlighten at magsabi ng katotohanan. Baka nasasapian kasi e,” she said. —NB/YA, GMA News

Tags: makaticityhallbuilding2, jejomarbinay, nancybinay, senateblueribboncommittee