VP Binay says Roxas behind demolition job

Vice-President Jejomar Binay has directly linked Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas to a supposed plan to derail his bid for the presidency.

Hacienda talk

Binay, in an exclusive interview on ANC’s Beyond Politics, did not hold back his anger over accusations of corruption lodged against him by former allies and political rivals.

He is particularly incensed by his former vice mayor’s claim that his family owns a vast estate in Rosario, Batangas.

“Nowhere in that town of Rosario do we have a property registered in our name,” Binay said.

He said the property’s transfer certificate title states that Agri-Fortuna Inc. is the owner of a 50,000 square meter or five-hectare land in Barangay Mayuro, Rosario, Batangas.

Agri-Fortuna is the company that Binay, his wife Elenita, and other business associates put up in 1992.

Binay said they later sold their shares to Laureano Gregorio, who now owns Agri-Fortuna.

The other link between the vice-president and the Rosario property was Binay’s piggery business JCB Farms, which operated within the property.

But Binay insisted that they only leased the area, as shown by a 1996 audited financial statement of JCB Farms.

He sold his piggery business to Agri-Fortuna in 2010.

Agri-Fortuna’s lot is now part of a bigger property being developed by Antonio Tiu’s Sunchamp Realty — the so-called “Hacienda Binay” referred to by former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

Binay disputes allegations that Gregorio, Tiu, and others are his “dummies.”

Mad at Mercado

Binay also lashed out at Mercado for allegedly making up stories about the Binay family.

“Eh nawalan ng delihensya, natalo,” Binay said. “‘Di siya nanalo sa eleksyon na ‘yun. Eh kasi nasanay sangkamalmal na pera kinita nya, inamin niya iyon.”

Rage against Mar

But Binay’s choice words are reserved for his arch-rival, Roxas, whom the vice-president claims was behind the demolition campaign against him.

“Si Mar Roxas, ituturo ko na agad sa iyo,” he said. “Si Mar ay isa sa nangunguna sa Oplan Stop Nognog in 2016.”

“‘Yung helicopter na ginamit eh helicopter ng funder nya si Buddy Zamora. Iyung isang staff niya kasama sa helicopter. Saka si Mercado na-ospital, wala pang ilang minuto, ayon sa report namin, nandon na si Mar Roxas,” Binay said.

“Huwag na tayo paka-ipokrito pa, kandidato siya, iyun ang sinasabi ko. Nung tinanong ako noong 2010, ako ay ‘di ipokrito. Sinabi ko, ‘Kakandidato ako.’  ‘Yung iba, ‘Hindi, hindi.'”

However, Binay maintains his support for President Aquino, whose support he hopes to get in 2016.

Mar’s camp responds

Last week, allies of Roxas denied he is behind an alleged plot to thwart Binay’s presidential bid.

Liberal Party Secretary General and Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said Roxas is too busy to be involved in a so-called demolition job against Binay.

“Secretary Roxas is focused with his job right now as one President Aquino’s most reliable all-around troubleshooter and does not have time for such counterproductive endeavors. There will be time for politics but not now,” he said.

Another Roxas ally, Iloilo City Congressman and LP’s Visayas party-whip Jerry Trenas, urged Binay to just answer all the allegations against him instead of blaming other people for his present woes.

“I think that the camp of VP Binay should stop the finger-pointing and stop diverting the issue. Dragging the name of Secretary Roxas into his mess will not help him explain the allegations of massive corruption being thrown against him,” Trenas said.