Former Vice mayor of Makati Ernesto Mercado making a statement in the senate against VP Jejomar Binay on the alleged corruption in the construction of the Makati city hall parking building. CATHY MIRANDA/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines – A former vice mayor of Makati City told a Senate hearing on Tuesday that Vice President Jejomar Binay should be blamed if something bad happens to him.
With Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s prodding, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado read before the Senate blue ribbon committee a letter he wrote for his family in November, 2012.
“Sa aking pamilya at sa kinauukulan, nitong mga nakaraang araw ay napapansin ko na may sumusunod-sunod sa aking mga lakad. Kung sakali po na may mangyayari sa akin ng masama, wala po kayong uusiging iba, wala pong gagawa sa akin ng masama kundi ang pamilya Binay lamang,” Mercado said.
(To my family and the authorities, these past few days, I have noticed that there have been people following me. Should anything bad happen to me, go after the Binays because they are the only ones who want to harm me.)
Mercado said he was keeping the letter in his wallet but he also made two copies for his wife and child.
At first, the former vice mayor merely implied his life was in danger when he mentioned during the first part of the hearing that he noticed some people following him. This prompted Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to move that Mercado be put under the government’s witness protection program but the latter was hesitant.
When it was time to question the resource person, Cayetano again brought up the threat to Mercado’s life and prodded him to read the letter that he was carrying in his wallet.
“Kung pwede po basahin n’yo na sa amin para malaman ko lang nandyan…”Cayetano said. “Para malaman ng publiko na hindi kayo nag-iimbento, na talagang meron kayo d’yan sa pitaka nyo…”
(Can you read the letter so that the people will know that you are not fabricating it and that you really have it in your wallet?)
“Napakabigat po sanang basahin po ito pero komo hinihingi ng pagkakataon malungkot man ako, babasahin ko,” Mercado said.
(It’s harrowing for me read this, but since you asked it, I will read it.)
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