De Lima defends WPP coverage for Mercado, Bondal over Makati bldg ‘overprice’

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima defended on Wednesday, the admission into the government’s Witness Protection Program of the two of three witnesses who testified against the allegedly overpriced parking building in Makati City constructed when Vice President Jejomar was mayor.

In an interview with reporters, De Lima was asked for her reaction to the Binay camp’s denunciation of the WPP coverage for former vice mayor Ernesto Mercado and lawyer Renato Bondal. Binay supporters said the two gave false testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee and were just being used in the alleged politically motivated demolition job against Binay, a presidential aspirant in the 2016 elections.

“Why, who’s saying they are liars? Are we sure about that? That’s why there are hearings, that’s why there are Senate proceedings and inquiry—so that we can learn the truth. Are there already findings? Is there already a conclusion that they’re not telling the truth? Remember that they are under oath [when they testified]. So they (witnesses) know that if they are lying, there are serious repercussions. So you can’t just say that now that they are liars. Did they (Binay camp) present any countervailing evidence when in the first place they refused to cooperate, they refused to appear before the Senate committee?” De Lima said.

Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson, described the admission of Mercado “a disservice to the WPP and a total waste of taxpayers’ money, all to advance the political demolition agenda of two senators.”

Mercado had claimed that Binay, when he was Makati mayor, received kickbacks from the contractor of the building construction.

De Lima, however, said the admission of the Mercado and Bondal to the WPP had legal basis.

“Let us remember that it’s the mandate of the WPP that when there is a legitimate request for the coverage of the WPP, it’s our obligation to evaluate and act accordingly especially since the law that created WPP also allows coverage for witnesses appearing before legislative inquiries,” she said.

“So we would be abdicating that duty if we don’t act on the legitimate request, especially since there is a recommendation from the Senate committee itself and the Senate President himself. They are the ones who can tell if they need those witnesses [to be protected because] their testimony is important, material and relevant to the ongoing inquiry,” she added.

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