Binay camp: Mercado ‘real owner’ of condominium unit

FORMER BINAY ALLY Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday pointed to former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado as the real owner of a condominium unit at the Peak Tower in Makati City.

“On contrary, what we know is Ernesto Mercado is the real owner of the Peak Tower condo unit,” Binay’s spokesman, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, said in a text message sent to reporters by the Vice President’s head of media affairs, Joey Salgado.

Remulla was reacting to reports that a certain Ariel Olivar would come out and testify at the Senate that he was used as a dummy for a 105-square meter unit at The Peak Tower, which supposedly belongs to the Vice President.

“Dito dating nakatira ang live-in partner n’yang si Racquel Ambrosio, na anak ng yumaong comedian na si Babalu. Dito rin nangyari ang shooting incident where Mercado was considered by police as prime suspect,” Remulla added.

(This was where his live-in partner Racquel Ambrosio, the daughter of deceased comedian Babalu, used to live. A shooting incident also happened here, wherein Mercado was considered by police as prime suspect.)

The spokesman said Ambrosio died on April 24, 2002 from a gunshot wound in the stomach.

“Gun used registered to Mercado. He surrendered the gun a day after and admitted cleaning the crime scene. The couple had (an) altercation before the incident,” Remulla said.

“Malinaw na ang agenda ni Mercado ay lokohin ang taumbayan at pagtakpan ang kanyang pagmamay-ari ng maraming properties,” the spokesman added.

(Mercado’s agenda is clear: fool the people and cover up his ownership of many properties.)

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