Former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said Elenita Binay, the Vice President’s wife and a former Mayor of Makati, ordered Hilmarc’s to build developments in the Batangas property but failed to pay the company for its services.
“Ang aking nababasa kaya nagkaroon ng sobrang overprice sa bawat building na ginagawa ng Hilmarc’s (Construction Corporation) sa Makati, nao-obliga ho na yakapin ni Engineer (Nelson) Morales at Engineer (Efren) Canlas na i-add on ang walang tigil na pagpapagawa ni Dra. (Elenita) Binay dyan sa lugar na yan maski ayaw ni Engineer Canlas sana,” Mercado said during inquiry.
Sought for comment, Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, Binay’s spokesperson for political affairs, denied Mercado’s allegations.
Executives of Hilmarc’s have also denied engaging in overpricing particularly in the case of the P2.7-billion Makati City Hall Building II.
Mercado said all the infrastructure in the Batangas property, including mansions, an English formal garden, a swimming pool, a 40-car garage and staffhouse, a farm of imported orchids, an airconditioned piggery, a cock farm, a man-made lagoon, a pavilion, a horse ranch, and an aviary were all constructed by Hilmarc’s.
“Ako ay awang awa kay Engineer Efren Canlas na may-ari ng Hilmarc’s. ‘Di siya makapagsalita. Pero lahat ng nakikita nyong development dyan, si Engineer Canlas ang gumawa. Kung papupuntahan dyan, makikita na iisa ang tatak. Lahat ng tatak ay Hilmarc’s,” Mercado said.
He said the problem started when the construction cost already reached P30 million to P50 million and Mrs. Binay allegedly still continued to order Hilmarc’s to build more infrastructure.
“Pupunta na sa akin yung dalawa. ‘Sir, may problema po kami.’ Ano yun? ‘E P30 million na ang utang ni doktora, di naman nagbabayad pero tuloy po ang pagawa. Ang sasabihin ko sa dalawa e simple lang, ‘E di bawasin nyo dun sa SOP.’ Tutal may 13 percent na SOP (or kickback allegedly for the Binays),” Mercado said.
Mercado earlier said that then Jejomar Binay, when he was Makati Mayor, allegedly received 13 percent kickback from every project the city entered into. The amount is divided into three bags. One was given to then Councilor Junjun Binay, for their family; the second, to Ebeng Baloloy for the Jejomar Binay’s personal finances; and the third to Gerry Limlingan for his political campaign.
“ Yung bag na dinedeliver ko kay Konsehal Junjun mababawasan para bayaran unti unti si Engr. Canlas. Ang problema kinabukasan, minumura na ko ng Ninang ko (Mrs. Binay). ‘Bakit kulang ang laman ng bag, listahan lang ang nakalagay?’ Sasabihin naming ibinayad po namin kay Engineer Canlas.’ Sasabihin ni Mrs. Binay na ‘Hindi pwedeng bawasan yan. Gumawa kayo ng paraan kung paano babayaran si Engineer Canlas’,” Mercado said.
Aside from construction works, Hilmarc’s allegedly let their construction equipment such as bulldozer, grader, backhoe and loader be used for free in the Batangas property.
“Kaya anong nangyayari? Lahat ng ginagawa ni Engineer Canlas sa Makati nagiging overpriced dahil lagi nang naka-add on yung naabono diyan (sa Batangas property). Kawawa naman po yung tao kung naghahanap buhay, napupunta (ang kita) sa pinagagawa sa proyekto nila (sa Batangas). Paano na po si Engr. Canlas?” Mercado said.
Mercado said the Batangas property is six times the size of Luneta Park, 10 times that of Araneta Center in Cubao, or half of San Juan.
He said one would have the feeling of being abroad when inside the property. The roads in the property were all concrete.
Mercado said the property is known in Batangas as one owned by the Binays.
He estimated the maintenance of the property to reach P4 million a month, excluding the salaries of security and maintenance personnel paid by the Makati City government.
Asked by Senator Antonio Trillanes if he is sure the property is owned by the Binays, Mercado said he is 101 percent sure as he had went there before almost 100 times since 1992.
“Siguro ay hindi lang 100 beses (nakapunta dyan). 1992 pa ako pumunta dyan. Utusan po ako nun. Bata-bata po nila ako noong panahon na iyon,” he said.
Mercado also said that the property was initially bought for P10 per square meter. —NB, GMA News
