He seems to have a limitless supply of allegations.
“Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado on Tuesday alleged before the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee that presumptive presidential candidate, Vice President Jejomar Binay, was given units in 60% to 70% of condominium buildings in the city in exchange for faster processing of permits, tax relief, and other privileges for the developers,” reports GMA News Online.
However, the report said that “Mercado presented alleged evidence of Binay’s ownership of units in only six condominium units.” Mercado also named the alleged dummies in owning the pieces of property.
Mercado alleged that Binay owns the following (as enumerated by GMA News Online):
—A 150-square meter unit in The Peak Condominium, which is named under Engineer Ariel Olivar who was the surveyor of Hacienda Binay in Rosario, Batangas.
—A unit at Le Triomphes Condo in 375 HV dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village which was under the name of Celso Santiago, who was the uncle of Dra. Elenita Binay, the Vice President’s wife.
—A unit at Makati Sunrise Towers Hotel (now Berjaya Hotel), at Makati Avenue and Eduque streets in Bel Air, also under the name of Santiago.
—A unit at Perla Compania de Seguros Mansion Condotel under the name of Benjamin Zapanta, owner of contractor BD Zapanta and one of the contractors of Makati City government projects.
—A unit at Prince Plaza II Condotel was under the name of Santos Panlilio, one of the favorite contractors of Binay.
—A unit at Avignon Tower was under the name of Aurora Panlilio, wife of Santos Panlilio.
Binay’s camp has once again denied Mercado’s allegations. In fact, in a press statement, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs, said it was Mercado who was the real owner of the unit at Peak Tower.
Remulla explained that the unit “was where Racquel Ambrosio, former live-in partner of Mercado and daughter of the late comedian Babalu, lived.”
Remulla added that the unit “was also the location of the shooting incident in which Mercado was considered by the police as the prime suspect.”
Remulla stated: “On April 24, 2002, Ambrosio died from a gunshot wound to the stomach. The gun used in the shooting was registered to Mercado. He surrendered the gun a day after the incident and even admitted to cleaning the crime scene. The couple had an altercation before the incident.”
We checked Remulla’s claim and, sure enough, we found a 2002 Manila Standard clipping of the the case he was referring to. (Thanks to Google’s online repository of old newspapers.)
The reports didn’t expound on the Mercado case anymore, so we’d have to find out for ourselves what happened there.
Photo: GMA News
