Witness vs. Binays says disbarment case a form of harassment

Renato Bondal, a whistleblower in the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II, dismissed the disbarment case filed against him as a form of harassment.

The disbarment complaint filed with the Office of the Court Administrator by a certain Eduardo Eridio alleged that Bondal committed bigamy in violation of the Revised Penal Code when he re-married in 2011 despite having been married to Rutchie Barcelona in 1997.

Bondal, however, on Monday said there was nothing illegal in his second marriage, adding his first wife had long become a US citizen and divorced him in the US. He said Barcelona has since married a US national and have three children with him.

He, however, admitted that he has yet to secure a judicial recognition of the foreign divorce, but said it was merely "procedural."

"Between substantive law and procedural law, substantive law will apply," Bondal said, adding there are Supreme Court rulings to support his claims.

He also pointed out that he has no child with his first wife contrary to Eridio's claim.

"In-abandon ko raw wife ko at anak ko. Eh wala naman ako anak sa first wife ko," Bondal said.

"I don't know him"

Bondal suspected there are people out to destroy his credibility. He refused to identify them.

"Walang nalalaman sa akin ito. Hindi ko siya kilala. Siguro nadampot nila ito at gusto nila mag-create ng tsismis about me," he said.

Bondal said he married his second wife at the Malate Catholic Church in Manila in 2011 and has a three-year-old child with her.

“How can a stranger dwell into my private life? At bakit ngayon lang? This is harassment, I assume. This was a provocation by people who are hurting,” he said without elaborating.

Bondal remained confident that he would be able to defend himself against the complaint.

Bondal also said the disbarment case was wrongfully filed with the Supreme Court's Office of the Court Administrator, when it should have been lodged with the Bar Confidante. He said the OCA has jurisdiction only over judges and court personnel.

Bondal vs. Binays

Bondal had sought the Makati mayoral post during the 2013 elections but lost to Junjun Binay, son of Vice President Jejomar Binay. Both father and son are implicated in the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.

Bondal and Barangay Olympia, Makati chairman Nicholas Enciso VI had filed a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against the two Binay and 21 others in connection with the alleged overpriced project.

The two whistleblowers, along with former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, have already been placed under the Witness Protection Program.

Mercado had testified before the Senate blue ribbon sub-committe that Binay, when he was still mayor of Makati City, received a 13-percent kickback from every contract entered into by the city government. He also said Binay got P52 million from the alleged overpricing of the P2.7-billion Makati City Hall Building II.

Makati City Hall Building II

Mercado also admitted receiving kickbacks generated from city hall contracts, including the one on Building II. He added that he also delivered such funds to Binay, his wife Dr. Elenita Binay, and Junjun Binay, a former city councilor.

The P2.7-billion parking building was allegedly overpriced by P1.314 billion, according to the complaint filed by Bondal and Enciso.
 
Construction of the questioned building began in 2007 when the elder Binay was still Makati mayor and Junjun a city councilor.

The Vice President has repeatedly denied involvement in any wrongdoing and has described previous allegations as part of a demolition job against him. —KBK, GMA News