Junjun Binay posts bail for graft, falsification raps over P2.28B building

Dismissed Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay on Friday posted bail for his provisional liberty while the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan hears the graft and falsification of public documents charges the Ombudsman filed against him earlier this month.

Binay is facing two counts of graft and six counts of falsification raps in connection with the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II during the term of his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, as mayor.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales  also ordered the filing of charges against Binay but clarified that they could only be filed at the end of his vice presidency. If he wins the 2016 presidential elections, they will be filed presidency.

The younger Binay went to the Sandiganbayan with his legal counsel Attorney Claro Certeza to post bail after the cases were raffled off to the court's Third Division.

The Ombudsman's Special Prosecutor recommended bail of P30,000 for every graft charge and P24,000 for every falsification rap, for a total of P204,000.

Acting City administrator Eleno Mendoza Jr. and representatives of other accused city officials were also present to post bail.

Efren Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Company (Hilmarc’s) also posted bail with Atty. Weng Santos, a representative of the legal office handling the case on Hilmarc's behalf.

Binay disputes Ombudsman's evidence

Binay also filed a motion disputing the evidence submitted by the Ombudsman in filing the charges against him.

Certeza, Binay Jr.'s legal counsel, explained on Friday that the evidence presented by the Ombudsman was insufficient to warrant a case, much less the arrest of his client.

"Nag-file kami ng motion for judicial determination of probable cause dahil naniniwala kami mahina yung ebidensya na finile ng Ombudsman at sa katunayan nga ay walang basis even to consider an issuance of a warrant of arrest," Certeza said.

Binay said the trial, which he believes will be "fair and impartial", will prove that he was not complicit in the allegedly anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II or the Makati parking building.

"I'm innocent. Wala naman talagang basehan tong kasong to kundi panggigipit tong ginagawa nila. Sabi nga ni Atty. Certeza, napakahina naman talaga mg ebidensya dahil wala naman talagang kaso. Now, we will prove this in court," he said.

Co-accused

Charged with Junjun Binay for falsification are:

- City administrator Marjorie De Veyra

- Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) vice chairperson and General Services Department officer-in-charge Gerardo San Gabriel

- City legal officer Pio Kenneth Dasal

-Makati Budget Officer Lorenza Amores

- BAC Secretariat head Manolito Uyaco

They were also charged for violating RA 3019 along with the following former Makati officials:

- BAC Technical Working Group (TWG) chairman Rodel Nayve

- Central Planning Management Office (CPMO) chief Line Dela Peña

- CPMO civil engineer Connie Consulta

- City treasurer Nelia Barlis

- City accountant Cecilio Lim III

- City engineer Mario Badillo

- Acting City administrator Eleno Mendoza Jr.

'Conspiracy'

The accused were found to have "conspired" to give Hilmarc's undue benefits and preference by awarding them the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II or the Makati parking building project.

The Ombudsman found probable cause for filing the cases as all six phases of the project took place from 2007 to 2013 despite a lack of approved design standards, contract plans, agency cost estimates, detailed engineering and programs of work, among others.

The Binays and a few city officials are also subject to preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman special panel for graft and malversation over the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati Science High School. -NB, GMA News