Evidence is just ‘hearsay’ — Junjun Binay’s camp

Makati Mayor Erwin Binay show a minor bruise and pacifies supporters after he was brought to the Senate plenary when he refused to testify at the Senate hearing on Thursday (January 29, 2015) at the Senate Building in Pasay City. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)

MANILA — Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun Binay” described the evidence used as basis by the Ombudsman to recommend his suspension as merely “hearsay.”

Lawyer Claro Certeza on Tuesday said in an interview with ANC Headstart that those who filed the case do not have evidence to prove their allegations.

“As far as I know there’s none (evidence),” Certeza said. “And I don’t think it is correct for Bondal and Hechanova to establish alleged rigging as a fact because they were not there.”

Binay was recommended to be suspended for six months along with 14 other city hall officials for their involvement in the construction of a school building in Makati.

The building was allegedly rigged in favor of Hilmarc’s Corp. which was the same contractor of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

Certeza said that the accusers have no direct evidence that will prove their allegations.

This is aside from the statement of the late former city engineer Nelson Morales who are accusing the Binays for ordering the project’s bidding to be rigged.

Atty. Renato Bondal and Engr. Mario Hechanova, the former head of Makati City’s general services department and vice chairman of the bids and awards committee said that the Morales is directly pointing to the Binays.

But Certeza said that even Morales’ statement is not sure.

“We don’t even know if Engr. Morales really made that statement. And it’s highly unfair that the Ombudsman will use this evidence that is clearly hearsay and that is not allowed as basis for filing a complaint,” he added.

“We will just have to face it and show that the evidence is really weak,” Certeza said.