MANILA, Philippines—The former ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay who accused him of benefiting from the allegedly overpriced Makati City parking building has “no credibility” as a Senate witness because he admitted receiving kickbacks from the construction of the building, former city administrator Marjorie A. de Veyra said on Tuesday.
During the Senate hearing on Tuesday, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado claimed that Binay benefited from the construction of the Makati City hall parking building. He also admitted that he gained something from that project when he was directly asked by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
De Veyra believed that Mercado should not be sitting as a witness on the hearing of the alleged overpriced building since he also admitted pocketing money from its construction.
“While vice mayor, he was known to frequent casinos here and abroad, where he was considered a high-roller and given five-star treatment by casino operators. He is known to lose millions in cockfights. We wondered how he was able to afford such a high-living lifestyle but his admission of personally gaining from the Building 2 project gives us the answer,” De Veyra said in a statement.
De Veyra, who worked with Mercado in the city government during his term as vice mayor from 2006-2012, claimed that his statements were “self-serving,” adding he did not present any proof to support his allegations against the Vice President.
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
“He has been saying bad things about the Binays since 2010 when he ran and lost against Mayor Junjun Binay. But he has not given any proof because he does not have any,” she noted.
De Veyra added that as former city administrator, she had first-hand information of Mercado’s activities.
Citing an investigation conducted by the city government itself, the former city administrator said that Mercado “abused the trust and confidence given to him by the Vice President,” who was then Makati mayor.
“Department heads have confirmed receiving calls or personal visits from the former vice mayor during his term,” she explained.
De Veyra claimed that Mercado would personally hand-carry checks and documents to department heads for their signatures without the knowledge and consent of Binay.
The Makati City government said that Mercado’s sudden “change of heart” was part of his effort to preempt the filing of charges against him by the local government unit.
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