MANILA, Philippines –
President Benigno Aquino III on Monday stressed the importance of searching for
the truth as a response to VP President Jemomar Binay’s claim that Senate
investigation on the alleged overpriced Makati Building was motivated by some
politic officials.
“At the end of the
day the truth will set us all free,” Aquino said after the launch of the
Mindanao Inclusive Agribusiness Program launch at Davao City. Aquino, however
added that he himself did not know what the truth was concerning the
controversial building.
On Thursday, Binay’s
new spokesman, Cavite Governor Juanito Vicente “Jonvic” Remulla said there was
indeed rigging in the bidding for projects in Makati but it did not involve the
Vice President and the former Makati mayor rather, it involved former Makati
purchasing officer Mario Hechanova, former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado
and the late city engineer Nelson Morales.
Mercado, who was the former ally of Binay previously appeared before the Senate blue ribbon committee and insisted that Binay benefited from the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building 2.
He said that P2.3 billion-worth building was supposed to
cost only P1.2 billion.On the hearing Mercado confessed he had a falling out with
Binay after the latter pulled out his support for Mercado’s mayoral candidacy.
He said Binay dropped
Mercado as his candidate upon learning that he was involved in the rigging of
government contracts.
On the other hand,
Binay said the his attackers in the Senate who are pushing for the
investigation are using it as a political platform, referring to the two
senators such as Senators Alan Peter
Cayetano and Antonio Trillianes IV.
