Binay: New witness testimony ‘imaginary,’ ‘fabricated’

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — “Imaginary” was how Vice President Jejomar Binay’s camp described the alleged handwritten notes attached to all bidding documents in Makati when he was still the city mayor supposedly to favor certain contractors.

A former councilor of Makati, Ernesto Aspillaga, told the Senate blue ribbon committee on Thursday that a purchased request for a project had a handwritten note of then Mayor Binay containing the name of a contractor whom he would like to win the contract.

But Binay’s spokesman, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, said Aspillaga’s allegations were fabricated.

“There were hundreds of bids conducted during the period cited by Mr. Aspillaga yet he admitted he doesn’t have a copy of a single note,” Remulla said in a statement.

“Obviously these are “imaginary notes,” he said. “Why did he not reveal the existence of those ‘notes’ when he was being investigated by the Ombudsman for the same biddings he mentioned in his testimony, for which he is now facing several cases before the courts?” he asked.

“Clearly he is fabricating his testimony to avail himself of Witness Protection Program immunity,” Remulla added.