Senate panel: VP liable for not disclosing ‘Hacienda Binay’ in SALN

ASIDE from plunder charges, the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee also found Vice President Jejomar Binay liable for not disclosing in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) the 350-hectare property in Batangas that he allegedly owned.

In a 46-page report signed by 10 senators, the subcommittee said Binay should be investigated and, after proper proceedings, be charged with violation of Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for the non-disclosure in his SALN the “Hacienda Binay” located in Rosario, Batangas.

A copy of the report, which recommended the filing of plunder charges against the Vice President, his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay, and other personalities in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall 2 parking building, was officially released to media on Monday after getting 10 signatures or majority of the 17-member Senate blue ribbon committee.

READ: Draft Senate report backs plunder raps vs Binays

“The subcommittee believes that the vast Rosario, Batangas property brought up in our hearings by former Vice Mayor Mercado is owned by Vice President Binay,” the report said, referring to Binay’s erstwhile ally, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

The report also noted that based on the documents submitted to the subcommittee, some parcels of land within or adjacent to the Batangas property were also under the names of people identified with the Vice President.

It was Mercado, who alleged during the Senate hearings that the Batangas property belonged to the Vice President. But businessman Antonio Tiu came forward and claimed that his company, Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corporation, was the real owner of the property.

The report though noted the testimony of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, who claimed that he had a conversation with Tiu where the latter disclosed that he was only leasing the Batangas property.`

“Aside from the one-page unnotarized agreement presented by Mr. Tiu, his testimony on October 22, 2014 on Sunchamp’s rights on the subject property was also very revealing,” it said.

The report then cited Tiu’s testimony that after paying the deposit for the property, they had an agreement that the “usufruct” or use of the land would now belong to Sunchamp.

And when Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano pointed out that it was just for the use of the land, and not ownership, the businessman answered: “Ownership would be turned over to us upon the completion of the transaction.”

“Hence, one thing is clear — at the time Mr. Tiu appeared before the subcommittee, neither he nor his company, Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corporation, was the owner of the Rosario, Batangas Property,” the report said.

The report said Tiu’s attempt “to muddle the issue” as to the ownership of the Batangas property did not work. AC

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