Binay faces yet another probe, this time over BSP-private firm joint venture
MANILA, Philippines—An anti-crime group on Tuesday urged Justice Secretary Leila De Lima to investigate officials of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) including Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado over the questionable joint venture agreement between BSP and a private firm for the transfer, construction and development of a leased property in Manila.
“We requested the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate further into the matter and this information to the Ombudsman for filing of complaint,” Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Chairman Dante Jimenez said after meeting with De Lima.
He said it is incumbent upon the DOJ to probe the joint venture entered into by the BSP, particularly its corporate assets management committee headed then by Mercado with the Empire East Holdings Inc.
Vice President Jejomar Binay PHOTO/ LYN RILLON
Jimenez said they have documents provided by “concerned Scouter” showing the approval of Malacañang in July 9, 2008 which allows the BSP to enter into a joint venture agreement with the company concerning a property with TCT No.68365 located at 181 Natividad Almeda Lopez Street in Ermita, Manila for the construction and development for BSP a 16-storey office building. The same agreement will also pay BSP with P18 million and transfer 10, 721.80 square meter of the land to Empire East.
Jimenez said the memorandum of encumbrances gave the condition that “the title to this land shall not be transferred by the BSP to another person without the previous authorization of the Republic of the Philippines.”
He said the joint venture agreement resulted in the ongoing construction of Suntrust Parkview, a building complex located near the Manila City Hall consisting of 1, 768 condominium units priced at a minimum of P1, 999.919.13 each for a 24-square-meter unit.
Not only Mercado and the BSP but also the Office of the President and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board should explain why the BSP is being allowed to enter into such project, Jimenez said.
“What’s happening to the BSP? Has the BSP turned itself as a profit-making organization? A moral issue is raised if indeed the BSP was trying to acquire the land at UPLB Makiling, why should BSP be interested in so doing when in fact it already has its own property transferred to Suntrust. Who, by the way are the owners of Suntrust and why this transaction that has nothing to do with Boy Scouting was allowed to happen and why Mercado is silent on the issue,” Jimenez said.
Another issue that he said should be answered is why the OP granted authority to the BSP to enter into the joint venture with Empire East despite the conditions cited in the memorandum of encumbrances and what had happened to the P18 million payments made to BSP by the company.
“Has it been properly audited and duly accounted for to serve the genuine interest of scouting in the Philippines?” he said adding that the BSP also need to clarify these issues.
Volunteers against Crime and Corruption founding chair Dante Jimenez: Vigilance. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
At the same time, Jimenez clarified that their call to the DOJ has nothing to do with the present controversy generated by Mercado’s corruption allegations against his erstwhile ally, former Makati-mayor-now-vice president Jejomar Binay.
“The VACC will not allow itself to be dragged into the present political fiasco,” he added.
Earlier, reports said Mercado also funded the construction of a P150 million luxury hotel owned by the BSP in Makiling, Laguna.
Mercado confirmed he helped in the construction of the hotel but said the funds came from the BSP and that it cost only P60 million.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said she ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to verify the documents presented by the BSP.
“Ang sabi ko lang it would form part of the investigation so we will first verify the documents na sinabi na naging basis. Gusto lang naman nila malaman what exactly is that joint venture agreement and allowed ba yan under the BSP Charter,” De Lima said.
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