Binay dared to open local and foreign bank accounts
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano dared Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday to sign a waiver that would allow the opening of all his bank accounts here and abroad.
Cayetano issued the challenge a day after Binay’s erstwhile ally, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado told a Senate hearing that the Vice President had foreign bank deposits but did not declare them all in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
“To solve all of these, halimbawa sabihin nyo parin kahit anong sabihin natin, ayaw humarap ng VP, e di huwag kang humarap sa amin, pumirma ka ng isang waiver na pumapayag na buksan ang mag bank accounts mo Mr. Vice President. Malaman talaga natin yung 30 percent at yung ibang lagayan at kalakaran sa sistema, kung talagang napunta sayo,” he said.
The senator was referring to Mercado’s allegation during the previous hearings of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee that Binay was receiving kickbacks for every project in Makati City when he was still the city mayor.
Mercado said the kickbacks went to three bags with different labels under the names of Binay’s son and incumbent City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay, a certain Ebeng Baloloy, and a certain Gerry Limlingan.
“Pumirma ka ng isang document na sinasabing here and abroad, bastat nasa pangalan mo ay pinapayagan mo na buksan. Huwag na nga sa pangalan ni Ebeng or Limlingan pero pag naka joint, kahit sa’yo payagang buksan,” Cayetano said.
“Kasi buo ang aming impormasyon na kapag nabuksan yung mga bank accounts ni VP Binay, makikita yung sinasabi nyang mayayaman o sobrang mayayaman. Lalabas at lalabas na ang bilyonaryo sa mga presidentiables presidentiables ay walang iba kundi si Jojoy Binay,” the senator added.
During Thursday’s subcommittee, Mercado enumerated the alleged foreigner bank deposits of the Vice President from 1986 to 1990s.
The subcommittee being headed by Senator Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III is investigating the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall 2 parking building and other alleged irregularities during the time of then Makati Mayor Binay.
The Vice President has repeatedly denied all allegations against him.
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