Ombudsman to file charges vs Binay as soon as he leaves VP post

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and dismisses Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay (right) with his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER PHOTOS

As soon as Vice President Jejomar Binay’s immunity from suit is lifted when he leaves office on June 30, the Office of the Ombudsman will pursue the plunder and other criminal cases against him.

“The resolution that we issued is very clear. When he’s stripped off  of immunity then we will consider filing the case,” Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said in a press conference after the launch of the Ombudsman Young Leaders Integrity Development Camp on Thursday.

Morales did not give a specific date on when they would file the cases against Binay.

She said: “Well, July 1st comes after June 30 in the same manner that July 10 comes after June 30.”

The outgoing Vice President is accused of graft and plunder in the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged overpriced construction of the billions-worth Makati City Hall Building II during his three terms as mayor of the city.

Meanwhile, graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents charges have been filed against the Vice President’s son, dismissed Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr., also over the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Parking Building II.

In February, the Office of the Ombudsman said cases against the Vice President would be filed after the expiration of his term, consistent with the principle that “an impeachable officer, while in office, cannot be the subject of a criminal indictment in court.”

READ: Ombudsman upholds graft raps vs Binay son

In a statement to the media a few hours after Morales’ press conference, Binay’s spokesperson Rico Quicho slammed the Ombudsman anew and called it “unfair” when it dealt with the investigation of the cases of the Binays.

“Alam ng lahat na hindi patas ang Ombudsman kay VP Binay. Binalewala nito ang mga ebidensya, due process at ang batas upang gipitin si VP Binay habang nagbulag-bulagan ito sa mga reklamo laban sa mga kaalyado at kapartido ng kasalukuyang administrasyon (Everyone knows the Ombudsman is unfair when it comes to VP Binay. It ignored all evidence, due process and the law to make it difficult for VP Binay while acting blind to the complaints against the allies and party mates of the current administration),” Quicho said.

The lawyer expressed confidence that the charges against the  Vice President would be junked.

“In a fair and impartial venue, we are confident that the so-called cases against the VP will be dismissed for being frivolous and baseless. We shall exert all legal remedies to prove the Ombudsman wrong,” Quicho said.

Even before Quicho made the statement, Morales said she never paid attention to tirades from Binay’s camp.

“Dedma naman kami sa mga punches na ’yan eh (We don’t mind those punches),” Morales said.

Asked if the death threats against her, allegedly from the Binay camp, still persisted, the feisty Ombudsman told reporters: “You want me to give you the truth? It’s in the air so I don’t know if it reaches me—any death threat.” RC/rga