Binay used Boy Scout land deal to fund 2010 poll campaign—Mercado

MANILA, Philippines—Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado returned to the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on Thursday and bared Vice President Jejomar Binay’s alleged “big sin” as president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP).

Testifying before the subcommittee, Mercado showed a slide presentation titled “Ang malaking kasalanan at kapabayaan sa Boy Scouts of the Philippines.”

Mercado said Binay took 5 percent from the Boy Scouts’ deal with Alphaland Corp. to fund his 2010 election campaign. Binay’s intention was to run as president at that time, Mercado said.

“Kinuhanan ni Vice President ng 5 percent ang mga Boy Scouts sa Alphaland deal para gamitin nya sa kanyang kampanya noong 2010 elections sa pagka-presidente,” he said.

The agreement between BSP and Alphaland in 2010 is a joint venture to develop a one-hectare property on Malugay Street and Ayala Avenue Extension in Makati City.

“Hindi naman ho Vice President ang unang balak ni Vice President Binay. Ang kanya po talagang plinano, ang kanyang pinangarap, ang kanyang inasam ay maging presidente ng ating bansa. Pero mabuti na lang po at vice president na nga lang ang tinakbo dahil kung nagkamali po tayo noong 2010 at naging president baka ho nakalubog na ang ating bansa sa kasalukuyan. Baka hindi lang nakalubog, lunod na tayo,” Mercado said.

Mercado explained that the 5 percent that allegedly went to Binay was part of the 20-percent share that the BSP should get from the transaction.

The agreement signed by the two parties, however, showed that the BSP share was only 15 percent, while 85 percent would go to Alphaland, Mercado said.

Mercado explained that the agreement indicated only 15 percent for BSP because the 5 percent went directly to the Vice President’s pockets.

“Ang 5 percent po na ito ay initial po lamang pero po ito ay umabot na ng halos P200 million habang ang Boy Scouts ng ating Pilipinas ay wala pa ring natatangap ni singko hanggang ngayon. Pero sya ho kumita na ho, nagamit na, napakinabanagan na,” he pointed out.

Mercado said the BSP also lost the donated property when Binay supposedly agreed to sell it to Alphaland.

“Nawalan ng lupa ang Boy Scouts dahil  ipinabenta ni  VP Binay ang lupa kay Alphaland. Ang P600 million na dapat bayad sa Boy Scouts ay nasa kapirasong papel pa rin po, hindi pa rin natatanggap hanggang ngayon. Naluto ang Boy Scout sa sarili nyang mantika,” Mercado said.

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