NBI can’t find Limlingan at known addresses

The National Bureau of Investigation knows the various addresses of Gerardo “Gerry” Limlingan, but the alleged bagman of Vice President Jejomar Binay cannot be found in those places, according to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

De Lima, in a recent interview with reporters, disclosed that the NBI failed to find Limlingan at his known addresses, but declined to comment on Limlingan’s lawyer’s denial of the charges hurled at him by former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

Alleged dummy for VP

In his testimony to a Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, Mercado charged that Limlingan is a longtime aide to and dummy for Binay in corrupt deals in Makati during the Vice President’s tenure as mayor of the city.

Binay has denied the charges and blamed the attacks against him on politics.

The Vice President is the front-runner in next year’s presidential election, although his lead has been dwindling since the Senate opened the investigation last year.

Ordered arrested

The NBI has been tracking down Limlingan for months after the Senate cited him in contempt and ordered his arrest for ignoring summons to the inquiry into the corruption charges against Binay and the Vice President’s son, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

“The NBI has reported to me. They have not [found] him,” De Lima said.

“They have traced the addresses of Mr. Limlingan, but they [cannot find him there],” she said.

Blanket denial worthless

Limlingan’s lawyer, Grace Reyes, said on Thursday that Limlingan and his brother Victor were accomplished “entrepreneurs and industry experts” who had nothing to do with alleged irregularities involving the Binays.

The Senate investigators dismissed Reyes’ statement as a blanket denial that had “no value at all.”

De Lima declined to comment on Reyes’ statement, saying it was a matter for the Senate.

“We will just wait [for] whatever will be referred to us by the Senate committee. That’s the only time we [can] enter the picture,” she said.

Witness protection

Earlier, the Senate asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help provide security to witnesses who disclosed corruption involving the Binays.

The witnesses—Mercado, lawyer Renato Bondal and Nicolas Enciso—have been taken into the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program.