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May natira pa ba?

May 15, 2015May 15, 2015 Ellen Leave a comment

Vice President Jejomar Binay

Or are the people, once again, left holding an empty bag?

That is the question of many people reading reports of massive withdrawals from Vice President Jejomar Binay’s alleged 242 bank accounts under his name as well as under the name of his wife former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay and son Junjun, Makati mayor. A number of the accounts are also in the name of his alleged dummies.

The amounts mentioned are mindboggling. In the Inquirer story on the report of the Anti-Money Laundering Council which was the basis for the freeze order by the Court of Appeals of suspected Binay accounts, the total amount mentioned is P11 billion since 2008.

From P2.5 million in 1988, his reported net worth when he was first elected mayor of Makati City to having P11 billion today is really mindboggling.

A spectacular increase of 293 per cent in 27 years. And to think that the Binays are supposed to be in public service and not known to be in business.

The Inquirer report states: “In the AMLC report, the amounts of P315,467,269.59, P221,436,720, P44,954,005.43 and P49,075,903.14 in cash were deposited in the various accounts of Gerardo Limlingan, Mario Oreta and Bernadette Cezar Portollano on Oct. 14, 2014… The following day, on Oct. 15, 2014, cash deposits totaling P79,621,549.00 were also made to the alleged dummy accounts.

“The AMLC report also showed that between Sept. 12 and Oct. 22, 2014, a total of P585,754,104.86 was withdrawn in over-the-counter transactions from the accounts of Limlingan and Eduviges D. Baloloy, a longtime Binay executive assistant.”

Limlingan, whose whereabouts are unknown as of now, is reportedly Binay’s financial officer. He is also referred as the VP’s “bagman.”

VP Jejomar Binay in his Batangas hacienda.

Oreta is the president of property developer Alphaland Corp. which was exposed by former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado as having paid P200 million in kickbacks to Binay for a land deal in Makati involving the property of the Boy Scout of the Philippines, which the Vice President heads. Businessman Roberto Ongpin is Alphaland’s chairman of the board.

Portollano is corporate secretary of Omni Security Investigation and General Services, a security and janitorial services company, and administrator of Binay’s former company, Agrifortuna Inc.

AMLC noted that the withdrawals started when the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee began the investigation into the Makati Parking building overprice last year.

The massive October withdrawals coincided with the Senate hearing on the vast Binay Hacienda in Batangas.
Although it is doubtful if the frozen accounts still hold substantial amounts, it is a danger signal to the Binays. Justice is closing in on them.

Credit should go to Blue Ribbon sub-committee headed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and the Sen. Antonio Trillanes III, who initiated the investigation of the Binays’ unexplained wealth.

The two, more so with Trillanes, have antagonized some people with their persistence in looking into irregularities in Makati involving the Binays. But so far, their exposes have been proven correct.

With the devastating AMLAC report and the CA freeze, Trillanes said it’s game over for the Vice President. He expects Binay to withdraw from 2016 presidential race.

I fervently hope he is right.I dread the prospect of having a president that has perfected the art of plunder.

Binay 2016 scenario: The worst is yet to come

November 16, 2014November 16, 2014 Ellen Leave a comment

Binay distributes health cards in Cagayan de Oro.

After Vice President Jejomar Binay backed out of the scheduled debate, which he himself suggested, with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, many asked if he is also reconsidering his announced presidential bid in 2016.

Binay immediately shut down the idea re-assuring his allies that there is no backing out of his ambition to be the next president of the Philippines, something that shudders many who imagine the level of corruption would it be under his presidency.

Binay gave the reason why he is pursuing his presidential plans despite the perception that he is severely damaged: “Napakalaki ng lamang ko. Never in the history na may ganun, hindi naman ganun kaagad ang lamang” (I keep a wide lead in surveys. Never in history that someone is leading the race by a wide margin).”

Which is true.

Despite the huge drop in voters’ preference for the 2016 elections for him – from 41 percent in the May 2014 survey to 31 percent in last September’s poll, he is still the frontrunner. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, the Liberal Party’s expected bet, trails way behind at 13 percent despite scoring an almost double increase.

Binay’s confidence got further boost by the results of the survey conducted at the height of the Senate hearing on his controversial sprawling hacienda in Batangas by Novo Trends PH, a new research agency led by political analyst Ramon Casiple, which showed that most of Metro Manilas would vote for him for president if elections were held today.

Some political analysts say that the hearings of the Blue Ribbon subcommittee which had uncovered Binay’s alleged awesome wealth came too early. They say that by next year, the voters would have forgotten about the controversies.

They say Binay is just riding out the controversies which he expects his detractors would not be able to sustain much longer.

Analysts take a cynical view about the effect on the voters of the controversy saying that with enormous war chest, Binay would be able to buy his way out of the scandal and to the presidency.

Such political strategy banks on the ignorance and apathy of the voters and takes for granted the determination of the three senators – Antonio Trillanes IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Aquilino Pimentel III – to pursue the investigation to its fullest.

It also underestimates the contempt of the public for corrupt officials and what a no-nonsense Ombudsman can do.

Mrs. Binay tours friends in Hacienda in 2010 Facebook post.

Mrs. Binay tours friends in Batangas Hacienda in 2010 Facebook post.

Next year, when Binay would be consolidating his nationwide network and intensifying his fundraising campaign, he, members of his family and associates would find themselves embroiled in graft and plunder cases.

His wife, Dr. Elenita Binay, who was Makati mayor for the period 1998 through 2001, in fact, is already in deep legal hole. She is facing seven legal cases in the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan.

Last week, the Sandiganbayan denied Mrs. Binay’s motion to suspend the proceedings on the charges of malversation and graft charges against her in connection with the alleged anomalous purchase of hospital beds worth P36 million in 2001. (The supplier for those hospitals beds was businessman Antonio Tiu, who is now being accused as Binay’s dummy in his 350-hectare Batangas hacienda.)

Binay himself has been charged with P1.5 billion plunder in connection with the alleged overpriced Makati parking building. Others named in the plunder case are his son, Junjun, the current Makati mayor and councilors.

Trillanes expects more plunder and other charges to be filed against Binay next year from evidence gathered by the Senate Blue Ribbon committee.

Impeachment has been ruled out due to apparent lack of numbers. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, a known supporter of Binay in the 2010 elections, has said that the vice president cannot be impeached for his acts as mayor.

It is expected that Binay would invoke immunity from suits. It is expected also that this question will reach the Supreme Court.

These issues will seriously hound Binay’s campaign and cause his prospective contributors to hold off the funds needed to oil his campaign machinery.

When Binay said last week that the “worst is over,” he knows that it is just beginning. The worst is yet to come.

Will Binay also withdraw from 2016 presidential race?

November 11, 2014November 11, 2014 Ellen Leave a comment

No one is really surprised that Vice President Jejomar Binay backed out of the Nov. 27 debate with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV which he himself suggested to the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas.

When the debate was starting to take a life of its own after he mentioned it to KBP President Herman Basbaño last October and Trillanes accepted the challenge, Binay was just waiting for an opportunity to back out.

The opportunity happened yesterday during his 72nd birthday celebration at the Philippine Marines headquarters.

He was asked about Trillanes’ statements that he was going into the much-publicized activity fully aware that the vice president, a lawyer, has an advantage as far as debating skills are concerned. But the senator, who was formerly a Philippine Navy officer said, he is on the side of truth.

Binay said, “Huwag na natin ituloy. Ayoko na kung ganyan sinasabi niya. (Let’s not push through with it. I don’t like if that’s what he is saying.)”

Binay explained: “Ang dahilan ko mga kababayan e dahil sa marami na akong naririnig na ako ay ganito…ako ay mahusay, ako ay naging debater, ako ay abogado, e sobra na ‘tong mga sinabi niyang ganyan na kumpirmadong sinabi niya, e ayaw ko naman hong maging..ang pagkakalilala niyo sa aking mga kababayan ay mapang-api, mapagsamantala…so tama na po ‘yun.(The reason why I am withdrawing is I have heard comments that I am an experienced debater, I’m a lawyer. He has also been saying things as if they were already confirmed. I don’t want to appear oppressive and opportunistic, so I am backing out.)”

But Binay’s spokesperson, Cavite governor Jonvic Remulla , was outrageously creative in his reason for his principal’s withdrawal from the debate: the Vice President realized it is a “disservice” to the survivors of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Trillanes said his reaction is one of “ambivalence.”

“Actually, I’m, in a way, expecting this, so, I couldn’t be disappointed,” he said.

He added that Binay’s withdrawal from something that he himself started shows his untrustworthiness.“Kasi alam niyo, ever since hindi napanghahawakan ang salita ni Vice President Binay.(You know, ever since VP Binay has no word of honor).This will totally destroy his credibility. Hindi na talaga natin siya mapagkakatiwalaan(We really can’t trust him).”

Trillanes recalled the Nov. 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, where Binay was part of the group that planned a civilian-military action to oust Gloria Arroyo, who was then embroiled in election cheating and corruption scandals.

Trillanes, who had won as senator while in detention for the July 2003 Oakwood mutiny against Arroyo, was scheduled to appear in a hearing at the Makati Regional Trial Court at the Makati City Hall that day.

The plan was for a mass rally in front of the statue of Sen. Benigno Aquino at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. Binay promised to mobilize his constituents including city hall employees for the mass action.

As planned, Trillanes, his fellow Magdalo soldiers , and Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim walked out of the hearing only to find out that there were no people at the agreed venue. “Paglabas namin noong araw ng pag-aaklas, wala si VP Binay. Pinahamak niya ang buong grupo (When we walked out of the court, there was no Binay. He put us in trouble .”

Trillanes and his companions decided to go to Manila Peninsula where they made a stand against the Arroyo government. ““Buong araw walang dumating. At si VP Binay, ‘yong anino niya, hindi nakita sa Makati.”

Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim, flanked by Antonio Trillanes IV and former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, read the statement calling on the people to withdraw support fron Gloria Arroyo during the Manila Pen seige.

Binay was with former President Joseph Estrada in Quezon City that day. The military later rammed an armored tank into the Manila Pen lobby and lobbed tear gas forcing the rebel soldiers to surrender.

Trillanes said Binay later visited him at Camp Crame, where he was detained , and apologized.

Trillanes said the Manila Pen incident, the revelations in the Senate investigation and the manner Binay is facing them “ show lack of character, untrustworthiness of the Vice President, and the lack of any intention to face the people regarding the allegations brought up against him.”

He said the Senate investigation of Binay will continue.

What will be Binay’s next move? Back out of the 2016 presidential race?

Let’s not forget Purisima

October 12, 2014October 12, 2014 Ellen Leave a comment

While we are riveted to the splendor of Hacienda Binay’s Kew Gardens and air-conditioned piggery, let us not forget Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima and his questionable acts as a public official.

PNP Chief Alan Purisima and President Aquino

The public should be more vigilant of the Purisima case because no less than President Aquino is protecting him, vouching for the Police chief’s integrity despite blatant violation of ethical standards set for government officials.

Talking with reporters in Indonesia, Aquino said, “Natuwa ako noong sinama niya lahat sa bahay niya sa Nueva Ecija. Iyon, gawain ng tao na hindi nagtatago.”

What kind of logic is that? Allowing media to see his vacation villa in a 4.5 hectare property in Nueva Ecija does not answer the questions of how he acquired it at a cheap price and how he was able to build a nice four-bedroom vacation house complete with swimming pool, gazebo and a nipa hut out of his salary as a police officer.

It is PR.

In the same way, former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado was out of line when he expressed sympathy for Purisima during his presentation of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s alleged 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas at the Senate hearing last week.

“Kawawa naman si PNP Chief Purisima. Binabanatan ng media, 4.5 hectares lang naman ang property niya sa Nueva Ecija. Ito 350 hectares,” Mercado said.

Binay’s 350-hectare Batangas estate is mindboggling but Purisima’s 4.5 hectare vacation place is no less an anomaly if it’s proven to have been acquired illegally.

Just because one is a smaller crook does not make him not a crook. A smaller size or amount is no certification of honesty.

Aside from his Nueva Ecija property, Purisima’s conduct in the P25 million renovation of the White House in Camp Crame, the PNP chief’s official residence, also raises a lot of questions.

Sources said the White House was constructed with government money although there was no capital outlay for it in the PNP budget. It was made possible with the juggling of funds by PNP officers in charge of the agency’s finances.

When the White House renovation was being questioned by media, sources said Purisima met with his trusted officers and they agreed that the line they will give the public was: “No government money was used.”
If no government money was used, where did the P25 million for the renovation come from?

Sources said Purisima’s group had another brainstorming session and they came up with the bright idea of asking the PNP chief’s fellow Mason brothers to own up having made a donation to the PNP for the renovation of the White House.

This was not easy because lying is supposedly anathema to Freemasonry which includes Truth as one of its core principles.

One military officer who is also a Mason said they also saw a problem justifying a P25 million donation for the renovation of the White House when there were more urgent projects in the PNP like improvement of the hospital.

The group finally was able to get three contractors to agree to be identified as “donors”: Carlos Gonzales of ULTICON Builders, Alexander Lopez of Pacific Concrete Corporation, and Christopher Pastrana of CAPP Industries.
But it was a strange kind of donation consisting of “building materials” because the deeds of donation were signed only last month when the renovation had already been completed.

Purisima’s tale of the three donors also defies common sense because those three companies are based in different parts of the country. How were they coordinated as to their participation in the renovation?

News reports later revealed that although the donors did not have projects with the PNP, as Purisima stressed, two of them – Pacific Concrete Corp. and Ulticon Builders – have contracts with Department of Public Works and Highways and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority.

Purisima also had another intriguing revelation when he appeared at the hearing of Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs committee chaired by Sen. Grace Poe. He admitted that he bought his brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser “Prado” for P1.5 million which has a published price of P4.5 million. He said a car dealer in Pampanga gave him a huge discount.

P3 million is no ordinary discount. It’s a huge favor. It’s a gift. Sen. Miriam Santiago went even further and called it “bribery.”

Plunder and indirect bribery charges have been filed against Purisima.

He is also being investigated by the Ombudsman for allegedly approving an irregular courier service contract with Werfast Documentary Agency in 2011.

Accepting gifts and donations is a violation of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act); Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees); Presidential Decree 46 (Making it Punishable for Public Officials and Employees to Receive, and for Private Persons to Give, Gifts on Any Occasion, including Christmas).

Aquino’s defense of Purisima makes a mockery of his “Tuwid na Daan” mantra.