Binay faces new plunder rap, ouster from Cabinet possibly next – Trillanes

Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines -Vice President Jejomar Binay is facing another plunder complaint in connection with the allegedly anomalous land deal between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and Alphaland Corp, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV said on Thursday.

Trillanes said Binay would be included in a plunder complaint that former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado is planning to file against officials of the BSP and Alphaland.

During the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee on Thursday, Mercado disclosed his plan to file plunder charges against members of the national executive board of the BSP and officials of Alphaland Corp.

“Umaapela po ako sa Boy Scouts lalo na sa miyembro ng national executive board, humihingi na po ako ng patawad sa inyo dahil kayo pong lahat na member ng national executive board noong year 2011, isasama ko po sa pagsasampa ng plunder case kasama po ang pamunuan ng Alphaland dahil gusto ko pong lumabas nag katotohanan,” he said.

While Mercado did not say that Binay would be included in the case, Trillanes, in a press conference after the hearing, made it clear that the Vice President would be among the respondents. Binay is longtime president of the BSP.

“Kasama sya (Binay) dun. Kasama din yung mga officials ng Alphaland,” said the senator when asked if Binay would be included in Mercado’s complaint.

Mercado has accused Binay of allegedly earning close to P200 million from the land deal between BSP and Alphaland.

Aside from filing cases, Trillanes said he would soon call for Binay’s resignation from the Cabinet if proven that he used his position as concurrent chairman of Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council in anomalous deals.

“Pagka nai-present natin yung iba’t bang anomaly e pwede na tayong manawagan na sibakin na ni President Aquino si Vice President Binay sa Cabinet kasi hindi na ito acts before he became part of the Cabinet,” he pointed out.