P134M in Pag-IBIG loans granted to VP Binay-linked developers –Trillanes

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday bared that  Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), more popularly known as Pag-IBIG Fund, granted developmental loans to four developers connected with Vice President Jejomar Binay.

During the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on anomalies linked to Binay, Trillanes said Prosperidad Real Development Inc, Major Homes Inc, Bumbaran Development Corporation, Astra Realty Corporation got loans from Pag-IBIG Fund, where Binay sits as chairman.

He said Prosperidad got P40 million in loans, adding that among the firm's incorporators are former lawmaker and Binay's alleged ally Rodolfo Plaza as its chairman, and Shirley Marie Plaza, a consultant in the Office of the Vice President on security issues as its president.

He said Major Homes, which got P20 million in loans, is headed by Mario Oreta of Alphaland; Gilberto Garcia, also president of Noble Care; and Ireneo Sioson, corporate secretary of Noble Care.

Trillanes said Oreta was one of the top campaign donor of Binay's daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, in the 2013 elections.

Alphaland and Noble Care were involved in questioned land deal with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, also headed by Vice President Binay.

“Dito natin makikita na matindi ang connection ni Oreta at VP Binay. Siya ang incorporator ng Major Homes Inc. Siya din ang president and CEO ng Constant Builders na bumili ng Tagaytay property ni VP Binay nung ini-expose na natin sa Senado,” Trillanes said.

Another developer, Bumbaran Development Corporation, got P14 million in loans, he said. One of its incorporators is former Quezon City Mayor Brigido ‘Jun’ Simeon Jr, who was Vice President Binay’s campaign coordinator in Mindanao in 2010, said Trillanes.

He further said Astra Realty Corporation also got a development loan from Pag-IBIG worth P60 million. He said the chairman of the company is Nora Bitong, a former top executive of the Jaka Group of Companies, the holding firm of detained Senator Juan Ponce Enrile’s family.

Trillanes then requested the Commission on Audit to conduct a special audit on the developmental loans released by Pag-IBIG Fund during the term of its President Darlene Berberabe.

“So nakita nyo, Atty Berberabe, ito na yung dini-deny nyo na wala. Ang statement ko kasi pinamimigay, pinamamahagi ang developmental loan sa mga kaibigan at kaalyado ni VP Binay. Ayan po, nag-produce tayo ng dokumento na  maliwanag. Can we request COA to do a special audit on the developmental loans issued by Pag-IBIG during the term of Atty Berberabe, June 2010 to present?” he said.

Berberabe said that Pag-IBIG has already addressed the issue by flagging down the questionable developers.

“Yun ang gusto ko ipaliwanag. Kaya nung January, nung nilabas ito, hinalughog namin, 'di kami agad makapag-volunteer kasi di namin alam ano ba. Ang alegasyon kasi anomaly. We are dealing with private sector businessmen,” she said.

“Nung nilabas po ninyo ang inyong akusayon ay hinanap po namin ito. May na-flag off na po kami sa mga posibleng kaibigan ni VP Binay. Lahat naman ng aming napirmahan ay 'yun ang aming ipapaliwanag,” she added. —KBK, GMA News