DOJ forms dedicated team to probe Binays

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation has created a “dedicated team” to investigate the corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay and other Makati City officials.

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De Lima said she met with NBI Director Virgilio Mendez Thursday to start the parallel investigation on the accusations hurled against the Binays.

“It will be a quiet investigation by the NBI. We don’t want the NBI to be distracted,” she said.

De Lima said she met Thursday morning with former Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado, lawyer Renato Bondal and Nicholas Enciso, witnesses in the alleged corruption cases in Makati.

During their close door meeting, she said she asked the witnesses about the extent of their evidence.

She, however, declined to detail their discussion.

According to her, the DOJ would submit their findings to the Ombudsman, which is also having its own investigation, once their probe is finished.

She said they would carefully examine the allegations and evidence presented by the witnesses citing not all might be able to help the NBI investigation.
 

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