Sandigan denies Junjun Binay’s plea, orders arraignment

Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has denied the appeal of dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. for being “pro-forma,” and thus, ordered his arraignment for graft and falsification of public documents over the alleged anomalous procurement of the P2.2 billion Makati City Hall parking building.

In a resolution promulgated September 25, the anti-graft court said that the motion for reconsideration filed by Binay Jr. is “devoid of merit” and that the arguments raised by the respondents “are mere rehash of the arguments they raised in their respective motions for judicial determination of probable cause.”

The court said the allegations in the information filed by the prosecution are enough to sustain its earlier finding of probable cause against the respondents.

READ: Junjun Binay to face trial in Makati parking building case

The court consequently ordered Binay Jr.’s arraignment and pre-trial on October 20.

On top of these charges, Binay Jr. is also facing fresh charges of malversation, graft and falsification of public documents together with his father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr., likewise in relation to alleged overpriced Makati parking building. The Sandiganbayan recently found probable cause in this latest complaint, and had set arraignment on September 29.

The graft court said there was no need to issue warrants of arrest against the Binays since both had already posted bail for their temporary freedom.

Binay Sr. was charged for alleged anomalies in the first three phases of the city hall parking building when he was still mayor of Makati City. Binay Jr., on the other hand, was charged for the fourth and fifth phases of the city hall’s car park building when he succeeded his father as city mayor.

READ: Ex-VP Binay to face trial in Makati parking building case 

In 2016, Binay Jr. was conditionally arraigned for the charges even before the finding of probable cause against him, in order for the court to rule on his travel motion.

READ: Junjun Binay arraigned, pleads not guilty to car park raps

The two Binays have also been indicted by the Ombudsman for separate charges of graft, and falsification of public documents charges for the allegedly anomalous procurement in the construction of the P1.3-billion Makati Science High School building.

READ: Binays ordered charged with graft over P1.3-B Makati Science HS building mess 

/kga