Junjun Binay fails again to stop graft trial
Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. FILE PHOTO
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has dealt yet another blow to dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. as it denied his motion to quash the charges against him in connection with the construction of Phases 4 and 5 of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.
In its March 12 resolution, the antigraft court said Binay Jr.’s arguments on the insufficiency of the charges against him were matters of defense best threshed out in a full-blown trial.
It added that the Ombudsman prosecutors sufficiently alleged the actions that would constitute valid charges of falsification of public documents and violation of Section 3(e) of the Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
The court rejected Binay Jr.’s argument that the prosecution did not state it was the mayor’s duty to intervene in the allegedly fabricated publication of bid invitations in the July 7, 2011 issue of Balita and Aug. 2, 2012 issue of Metro Profile.
The alleged falsification of the bid invitations put into question the regularity of the bidding process for the contracts worth P649.28 million and P141.65 million, which were awarded during Binay Jr.’s term.
Earlier, the same court denied his motions to quash the cases involving his continued approval of the payments for the P11.01-million architectural design contract to Mana Architecture and Interior Design Co., and P599.4-million contract for Phase 3 also awarded to Hilmarc’s Construction Corp.
The release of the payments was questioned due to alleged irregularities in the procurement process during the term of Binay Jr.’s predecessor, his father Jejomar Binay Sr. —Vince F. Nonato
