By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has cleared former vice president Jejomar Binay, his son former Makati mayor Jejomar Jr., and others of charges arising from the construction of the PHP2.2 billion Makati City car park project.
In its 202-page decision promulgated Friday, the Sandiganbayan 3rd Division found the Binays and their co-accused not guilty on charges of falsification, malversation of public funds, and violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) because of “the failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”
Aside from the Binays, also cleared were city hall officials Marjorie De Veyra, Pio Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Virginia Hernandez, Line Dela Peña, Mario Badillo, Leonila Querijero, Raydes Pestaño, Nelia Barlis, Arnel Cadangan, Connie Consulta, Ulysses Orienza, Giovanni Condes, Norman Flores, Gerardo San Gabriel, Eleno Mendoza Jr., and Rodel Nayve.
Likewise acquitted were private individuals Orlando Mateo and Efren Canlas.
The court also ruled for the dismissal of the cases against three individuals, Emerito Magat, Cecilio Lim III, and Manolito Uyaco, who died during the pendency of the case.
The charges, filed in 2016, involved alleged overpricing in implementing the multi-phase project.
In 2019, the Court of Appeals cleared the Binays and other accused and nullified the 2015 decision of the Office of the Ombudsman over administrative liabilities for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct arising from the allegedly overpriced structure.
In December 2024, the Sandiganbayan also cleared the Binays of charges arising from the construction of another city project, the PHP1.3 billion Makati Science High School.
The school has since been placed under the management of Taguig City after the Supreme Court ruled that certain areas of Makati City are part of Taguig’s territory. (PNA)
