Binay to sue Ombudsman over reopening of wife’s graft case

Former Makati City Mayor Elenita Binay  FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay is set to file charges against the Office of the Ombudsman for reopening the case against Binay’s wife Elenita.

Charges of grave abuse of authority, violation of constitutional rights, and political persecution are directed at the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor for reopening the case of Mrs. Binay that was dismissed three years ago, Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said in a statement on Monday.

Mrs. Binay had been charged with graft and malversation for the purchase of allegedly overpriced beds of the Ospital ng Makati when she was mayor from 1998 to 2001. The case was dismissed in 2011 for lack of evidence.

Salgado said the special prosecutor conducted a review of the dismissed case with “undue haste, harassment, and the blatant absence of transparency.”

He also accused the Ombudsman’s special prosecutor of reviving the case even without new evidence and witnesses.

Binay’s lawyer even said the revival of new cases is part of the administration’s “demolition job” against Binay.

Salgado said they had hoped the government’s case in the pork barrel scam would mean the Ombudsman would show “greater prudence” in going after the administration’s rivals.
“We had hoped that given the highly charged political atmosphere arising from the revelations of Janet Lim-Napoles, the Ombudsman’s Office of Special Prosecutor would have shown greater prudence to avoid allegations that it is persecuting those who are not allies of the administration,” Salgado said.

The Sandiganbayan on May 20 issued a hold departure order against Mrs. Binay over the newly revived case against her.

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