Binay Jr. wants graft raps dismissed

Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. FILE PHOTO

Former Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. has asked the Sandiganbayan to dismiss the graft and malversation charges filed against him in connection with the allegedly anomalous contract for the Makati City Hall Building II.

In a 14-page motion to quash before the Third Division, Binay Jr. argued that while he approved the P11.01-million and P599.4-million payments to Mana Architecture and Interior Design Co. and Hilmarc’s Construction Corp., he never had actual control over the money.

“The position of accused Binay Jr. as mayor of Makati City does not actually give him physical access to the subject funds. As such, there is no scenario where accused Binay Jr. could be considered an accountable officer who can be made liable for malversation of public funds,” his motion read.

Binay Jr. said “all he did was pay the obligation already incurred by the City of Makati under a contract that was entered into even before [I] became mayor.”

He added that he could have exposed the city government to a lawsuit if he did not honor the contracts entered into by his father and predecessor, former Makati Mayor and Vice President Jejomar Binay Sr.

This was the first time he sought the dismissal of the cases involving his father that were filed in July 2016, weeks after Binay Sr. lost his immunity upon finishing his term as vice president.