Trillanes: Blue ribbon to probe alleged Makati school anomaly involving VP Binay

VICE President Jejomar  Binay  is allegedly benefitting  from the University of Makati’s (UMak) College of  Nursing  as one  of its shareholders,  Senator  Antonio  Trillanes  IV bared  on Monday.

Trillanes said the alleged anomaly would be the subject  of investigation  by the Senate  blue ribbon  subcommittee when it resumes  its hearings on Tuesday.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV and  Vice President Binay (inset photo)  INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

“Ang pag-uusapan bukas ay yung tungkol sa University of Makati College of Nursing  at dahil may mga anomalya dyan na hindi nalalaman ng mga taga-Makati at kababayan natin,”  the senator told reporters at the Senate.

“Nasa gitna sya ng lahat ng kalokohan  dyan sa Nursing College,” he said, referring to  Binay, who was mayor of Makati City before he was elected  vice president in 2010.

Trillanes said the alleged anomaly continued up to now.

“Pinagkakakitaan ang University of Makati  College of Nursing.  Partner dito si Vice President Binay. Hindi po ang City of  Makati ang may-ari  nito  at ipapakita natin nyan bukas,” he pointed out.

Asked how Binay supposedly benefitted from the College of Nursing,  the senator explained  that it was the Makati government that pays the tuition and other fees of its scholars at the College of Nursing.

“Kanino ibinabayad? Sa kanila…”  Trillanes  said, referring to the  college, which he said is semi-private and Binay is one of its shareholders.

He said Binay’s name appeared in Securities and Exchange  Commission (SEC) documents.

“Nagkamali sya dito, may pangalan e,”  Trillanes added.

Binay camp reacts

Meanwhile, Binay’s camp immediately denied fresh accusations  that he  has been benefitting  from UMak College of Nursing, saying he has not received any shares from it.

Binay’s  spokesman, Joey Salgado said,  Trillanes was just “trying in vain to discredit another  good project  of the Vice President.”

“For  his  edification, the Vice President was  an incorporator  of the joint venture between  STI and  UMak in his capacity as mayor and chair of UMak’s board of trustees,”  Salagado said in a text message   to reporters.

“Did he receive any shares or remuneration? None. Did UMak release money to the joint venture? No. It’s  40 share represents among others, the use of facilities to the students,”  he said.

“Did Makati gain from the  joint  venture?  Definitely. It earned from the joint venture and  produced  hundreds  of graduates in nursing and  related fields. It also posted a passing rate of 70 percent to 77 percent in licensure  exams,”  Salgado pointed  out.

Trillanes claimed that  it was the Makati government who pays for the tuition and other fees  of their scholars  at the College of Nursing.  AC