IBA, Zambales – Dismissed Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. on Wednesday lamented the timing of the audit report on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II during the elections campaign of his father Vice President Jejomar Binay.
In an interview at the ancestral house of former senator Loi Estrada here, Binay said he expected the report, which is now with Commission on Audit (COA) chairperson Michael Aguinaldo, to be released a few days before the next presidential debates in Cebu.
The report is up for review by COA chairperson Aguinaldo.
Binay said the release of the report was meant to derail the presidential bid of his father as the next presidential debates go near.
“Timing is suspect again. Running the surveys now, and in a few weeks malapit na ang presidential debate (the presidential debate is fast approaching), most likely ito ay lalabas (it will be out by) next week probably Thursday or Friday,” Binay said.
READ: Binay camp hits Ombudsman for rushing release of city hall building audit
He expects the report to be released before the Cebu debates so that the issue at hand would be allegations of corruption.
“Titiyempo yan na malapit na ang debate. At alam natin na isa sa magiging topic dun is corruption. Nakikita natin dito in a few days. Lalabas yan, perfect timing na naman yan,” he added.
(That will timed with the debate coming soon. And we know that the topic there will be corruption. We can see that in a few days, it will be out; perfectly timed once again.)
Dr. Estrada hosted lunch for the Binay’s family, campaign staff and reporters after a midday motorcade around Zambales.
Spotted during lunch, aside from Junjun Binay, were his sister Sen. Nancy Binay and Jude Estrada, son of Dr. Loi with former president Joseph Estrada.
Binay said he also questioned the process in the audit report, because some respondents have yet to receive copies of the partial findings.
“Kasama yun sa due process. Kung ikaw ay inakusahan, bigyan ka ng pagkakataon magpaliwanag,” Binay said.
(That’s part of the due process. If you had been accused, you will be given the chance to explain.)
A partial report on the audit finding was earlier submitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing the allegations of corruption in Makati when the vice president and his son were mayor.
READ: Sandigan issues hold order on Junjun Binay
The report showed that Phases I to IV construction of the Makati car park building was overpriced by P124 million.
The report showed that COA’s evaluated cost for the first four phases of the project was P2.126 billion while the actual contract cost was P2.011 billion.
This means the contract may have been overpriced by at least P124.6 million.
The report also noted the undue haste in awarding the bid to Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. even though there were still no construction plans.
Junjun Binay was earlier charged by the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan of graft and falsification of public documents over the alleged rigging in the procurement for the building.
READ: Junjun Binay charged with graft, document falsification over carpark building
The Ombudsman also indicted Vice President Binay, but it would file the charges only when Binay’s immunity expires at the end of his term.
The Ombudsman has yet to file the malversation charges against the younger Binay. CDG