Solon denies using chopper for aerial shots of ‘Hacienda Binay”

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines – Caloocan Representative Edgar Erice denied being behind the move to discredit Vice President Jejomar Binay through the aerial shots of his so-called “Hacienda Binay.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, Erice said he did not provide the helicopter used to take pictures of the estate contrary to claims by lawyer JV Bautista, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) interim secretary general.

Bautista claimed in a television interview that the helicopter used to take aerial photos and videos of the Sunchamp Agri-Industrial Park in Rosario, Batangas was allegedly owned by Salvador “Buddy” Zamora II and Eric Gutierrez, business partners and supposedly financiers of Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

The UNA official also said that Gutierrez was a business partner of Erice.

While Erice confirmed that Gutierrez has been his business partner in mining since 1989, the lawmaker said the chopper used did not come from their company.

He added that he did not need to conspire with anybody to discredit Binay.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice. FILE PHOTO

“Hindi ko naman kailangan ng conspiracy. Open naman ako na anti-Binay. Harapan naman ako na lumalaban,” said Erice, a member of Aquino’s Liberal Party who and a supporter of a move to extend the president’s term beyond 2016.

Erice even said he’d be willing to lend his helicopter just to bring down Binay.

“‘Yung chopper, wala kami kinalaman dyan… Sayang din at hindi kami hiningan ng tulong. Dahil ako, tutulong ako sa abot ng makakaya ko,” Erice said.

UNA’s Bautista also said their revelation disproved the claim of former Makati City vice mayor Ernesto Mercado that he took the pictures of the alleged Binay property.

Mercado said “Hacienda Binay” was a 350-hectare land described as being six times bigger than Luneta Park in Manila, 10 times larger than the Smart Araneta Center in Quezon City and half as big as the 700-hectare San Juan.

The estate supposedly housed an airconditioned piggery, a flower orchard and a farm for breeding fighting cocks.

Bautista also accused Roxas of being behind the smear propaganda against Binay in what he called “Oplan Stop Nognog 2016.”

Binay has openly expressed his intention to run as president in 2016, while Roxas is seen as President Aquino’s favored predecessor.

“He’s now accusing Mar Roxas of conspiracy. Wala naman kibo si Secretary Roxas… Parang ang sinasabi nila, the Aquino government is behind the conspiracy…” Erice said.

Meanwhile, Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo said Binay should just face the allegations instead of pinning the blame on who provided the helicopter.

“What I think is important is not the source of the helicopter but the serious accusations that should be addressed. I think the vice president should just answer the allegations squarely,” Castelo, also an LP member, said in the press briefing.

Binay faces a Senate investigation for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the reported overpriced Makati parking building when he was mayor in 2007. He is also accused of failing to declare various properties in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities Networth (SALN).

Erice had expressed his intention to file an impeachment complaint against Binay for betrayal of public trust.