Alan Cayetano: Tiu could also be laundering money for Binays

Published October 31, 2014 1:55pm

(Updated 3:26 p.m.) Aside from being an alleged dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, businessman Antonio Tiu could also be laundering money for the second highest official of the land, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Friday.

“The scrutiny of Securities and Exchange Commission, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Philippine Stock Exchange (on the companies of Tiu) will be crucial kasi makikita dito, lumalabas ang possibility na hindi lang dummy si Mr. Tiu ng mga Binay, there is a possibility na nagla-launder din ng pera para sa mga Binay,” the senator told reporters after an event in Taguig City.

Cayetano said he would release the information he gathered soon, including the money trail.

“Meron kaming ibang leads... Yung paikot-ikot ng pera, isang pinanggagalingan ng pera ay yung British Virgin Island na mga kumpanya at panay mga abogado pa rin ng Binay Law Office ang andun,” he said.

The senator is referring to Three Star Capital Ltd and Southern Field Ltd, which have investments in Greenergy and AgriNurture, both companies owned by Tiu.

Cayetano said Three Star has Tiu as its director while a certain Richard Salazar, reported lawyer of Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance, is a director of Southern Field.

Reached for his comment, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs, challenged Cayetano “to back up his words with solid evidence and not mere conjecture.”

“His (Cayetano) political brand of destruction has resulted in the people’s loss of confidence in him and the institution he represents. VP Binay has always been a builder rather than a destroyer,” Remulla said in a text message to GMA News Online.

Remulla said Binay is confident that the people see through the obvious attempt at creating scenarios based on imagination.

The Senate blue ribbon committee is investigating the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and Binay's alleged corruption when he was the mayor of Makati.

Binay has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing by him and by members of his family while he ran the city.

Tiu has also denied being a front for Binay as regards the ownership of a multimillion-peso property in Rosario, Cavite. The businessman claimed that his company Sunchamp owned the estate.

The investigation into the alleged corruption and Tiu's alleged involvement have caused the share prices of his listed companies to fall. — NB/RSJ, GMA News

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