Media initially barred entry to Sunchamp farm

By: Maricar Cinco - 10 years ago

THE VERANDA This veranda shows the opulence of the main house on the sprawling agricultural estate in Rosario town, Batangas province, allegedly owned by Vice President Jejomar Binay. Antonio Tiu says he owns the property but former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado claims Binay is the proprietor. RAFFY LERMA

ROSARIO, Batangas—The media tour of the sprawling Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Park here almost did not push through after a lawyer of Antonio Tiu, who was being accused of being a dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, said reporters were not allowed to join the tour.

Only members of the blue ribbon subcommittee would be permitted to enter, the lawyer said.

Tiu finally relented to opening the controversial farm estate for inspection by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and members of the media.

Tiu, arrived around 1 p.m. from Manila, just a few minutes after Trillanes and some members of the media left the farm after several attempts to get in.

“There was an intent not to let us in,” a frustrated Trillanes said.

The senator, a member of the Senate blue ribbon committee investigating the Makati City Hall Building II involving the Binays, arrived early at the farm in Barangay Maligaya here but was refused twice to enter the property by its security personnel.

Around noon, lawyer Czarina Quintanilla said only a member of the Senate committee would be allowed to enter the premises.

Quintanilla said Sunchamp sent a letter to the Senate committee, received 9:18 a.m. by the office of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, which said that the ocular inspection shall be carried out only by a member of the Senate blue ribbon committee or a representative only from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 23.

The letter, signed by Santiago T. Gabionza and Alexander C. Dy of the Gabionza de Santos law firm, also restricted reporters from taking pictures, videos, or conducting interviews with Sunchamp personnel.

A fuming Trillanes earlier said Tiu’s attempt to prevent the inspection proved that the businessman was a dummy. “We are dealing with a pathological liar here,” he said.

‘Legal language’

But just after Trillanes decided to call off the inspection, Tiu arrived past 1 p.m. and invited the remaining reporters inside.

“That is just the legal language of our lawyers,” said Tiu, to explain the letter sent to the Senate.

After publicly agreeing to an inspection on Thursday during the Senate hearing, Tiu said the letter was only “a formal invitation” to the senators.

Trillanes, upon learning that Tiu had arrived, decided to turn back and push through with the inspection.

“If we hadn’t pressured him (to let us in) he wouldn’t have done so,” Trillanes said.

‘Paradise’

Trillanes and Tiu both led reporters around what Tiu insisted was a 145-hectare property of Sunchamp, both giving interviews side by side, but never really talking during the inspection.

“This is a paradise. The first time I was been here, in the pavilion, I was awed. I am still awed and I hope you’re feeling the same way as I am,” Trillanes said.

Tiu said he acquired the property and all the amenities, including the antique furniture, as a “package,” and only made some renovations over time.

Among the facilities visited was the main rest house, which is made of hardwood and which Tiu described was about 300-400 square meters with 10 rooms.

There were also a butterfly garden, an aviary of imported birds, a children’s playground, the maze garden with a pond, and a 1,000-sq-m lagoon.

Mostly hired in August

Told by reporters how beautiful the place was, “who wouldn’t buy this place? It’s a good package,” said Tiu.

Trillanes doubted the agri-tourism property would be profitable.

“How could you say it wouldn’t be profitable? These are 3,000 mango trees,” said Tiu as he walked with reporters inside the compound.

Tiu said he envisioned the property to be similar to agri-tourism parks in the United States, Japan or Taiwan complete with sports complex.

“Actually, I am acquiring the surrounding properties to be turned into residential areas,” he said.

Several personnel and caretakers interviewed maintained that the property was owned by Tiu and not by the Binays.

Grace Martinez, a close aide of Tiu, said Sunchamp has about 100 employees of them hired in August. The employees, she said, were mostly local residents.

But a 26-year-old male onlooker interviewed outside the farm said the farm had always been known to be owned by the Binays.

“Ask the tricycle drivers here and they’d readily bring you here when you say Binay farm,” he said.

He said residents in the area often saw the Vice President at the farm. The last time they saw him before Christmas last year, when he arrived at the farm with a convoy of expensive vehicles, he said.