Why is chopper flying over ‘Binay’s farm’?

Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines–The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday said that he had divested himself since 2010 of his interest in a piggery farm on a leased property in Rosario, Batangas, in anticipation that his detractors may claim otherwise.

Joey Salgado, Binay’s spokesman and head of his media office, made the clarification after employees of JCB Farms, a piggery and flower farm, reported that a helicopter flew around the property on Thursday for about 20 minutes, the first time it ever happened.

“We will not be surprised that if in the coming days, video footage or photos of the property will be circulated in media and perhaps even presented in the Senate subcommittee hearing alleging that Vice President Binay is the owner of the said property,” Salgado said in a statement.

“We are sorry to disappoint our detractors,” he added.

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee has been conducting an investigation into the allegedly overpriced P2.3-billion Makati City Hall Building II. The controversial parking building was built when Binay was still the city mayor.

The inquiry has become a venue for former city officials under Binay to accuse him of rigging contracts of city infrastructure projects and benefiting from kickbacks, allegations that the Vice President has denied.

In his statement, Salgado said Binay’s lawyers presented to the media last month documents showing the income and businesses of Binay and his wife, former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, through their joint statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and the corresponding taxes he paid in his 28-year public service starting as mayor of Makati.

Binay allowed the release of his SALN after he said he was willing to undergo a lifestyle check amid speculations that he had amassed massive wealth during his stint as mayor.

Salgado said Binay went into the piggery business in 1994 as a sole proprietor under the name JCB Farms. He said the business was duly registered in the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s office in Rosario, Batangas.

The farm was also just a lessee of the 9-hectare property, he said.

Salgado also said the improvements on the leased property by JCB Farms were also reported in its annual audited financial statements and in duly filed tax declarations in Batangas.

The leased property has a flower farm, which was the source of flowers for the flower shop business owned by Binay’s wife.

“The piggery and flower farm both explain the Vice President and his family’s visibility in Rosario,” Salgado said.

He said JCB Farms brought additional net income of P44,350,921.88 to Binay from 1994 to 2010 for which he paid taxes amounting to P15.88 million.

In 2010, after he won the vice presidency, Binay divested himself of his business interest for a profit in JCB Farms and his investments in shares of stocks, Salgado said.–Christine O. Avendaño

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