Makati City Mayor Erwin “Junjun” Binay hears Mass along with his children before Senate representatives arrive to arrest him at Makati City Hall on Thursday. Mayor Binay was cited for contempt after failing to attend several hearings called by the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-Committee regarding corruption issues in Makati. (MNS photo)binay
MANILA, Mar 9 (Mabuhay) – The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday issued a hold departure order (HDO) against dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. in connection with the cases against him over the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall Building II, division clerk of court Atty. Dennis Pulma confirmed.
Pulma said aside from Binay Jr., also barred from leaving the country were 13 of his co-accused, most of them were incumbent officials of the Makati City government.
The Bureau of Immigration was tasked to include the name of Binay and his co-accused in its hold departure list.
The copy of the HDO has yet to be released to the media as of posting time.
Binay is facing two counts of violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and six counts of falsification of public documents as defined under Article 171 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II also referred as the Makati parking building.
Based on the information of the cases filed by the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) last month, Binay Jr. son of Vice President Jejomar Binay, and other Makati City officials “conspired” in giving unwarranted benefits and preference to Hilmarc’s Construction Company by awarding to it the contracts for the construction of the P2.28-billion building project.
Binay Jr. had repeatedly denied the allegation.
Last week, he filed a motion before the Third Division asking the court to dismiss the cases due to supposed lack of evidence. (MNS)