Heres what VP Jojo Binay s camp had to say after the presentation of Fomer Makati Vice Mayor Mercado at the Senate hearing: Statement Of The United Nationalist Alliance on The Allegations Made By Mr. Ernesto Mercado Former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercados attempt to use aerial footage of a piggery and flower farm leasing property in Rosario, Batangas is nothing but cheap political ploy. The Vice Presidents camp has already issued a statement on this issue. Nonetheless, we reiterate what the lawyers of Vice President Jejomar Binay told media in their presentation of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of the Vice President and his spouse, former mayor Elenita S. Binay. In 1994, the Vice President started a piggery business in Rosario, Batangas through a sole proprietorship under the name JCB Farms. JCB Farms is duly registered in the BIR-Rosario, Batangas office. JCB Farms is a mere lessee of a nine-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas. After the 2010 elections, the Vice President divested all of his business interests and investments in JCB Farms. What we would like to find out is how Mercado was able to hire a helicopter to hover around the piggery farm when, in fact, he is deeply in debt due to his gambling habits. Mercado has been known to frequent casinos here and abroad, where he is considered a high-roller and is given five-star treatment by casino operators. He is known to lose millions in cockfights. He also owns several yachts purchased out of questionable funds. Did the money use to rent the helicopter come out of Mercados own pocket? If not, who is funding him? How Mercado has been able to afford such a high-living lifestyle is perplexing, but his admission of personally gaining from the Makati City Hall Building 2 project and other projects in Makati answers this. We reiterate that Mercados statements are all self-serving and fail to present proof to support any of his allegations against the Vice President. Mercados tactics are merely part of his desperate effort to preempt the filing of charges against him by the local government unit. Vice President Binay has already submitted his SALN. Perhaps it is about time for Mercado and his fellow accusers to undergo a lifestyle check. And given Mercados own admission of illegally benefitting from government projects, we are wondering why the senators conducting the inquiry on the alleged overpricing of Makati City Hall Building 2 have not made any move to freeze Mercados assets. Is it because he is doing their bidding? If the senators want to keep up their supposed impartiality, then perhaps they should rethink their strategy. JV BAUTISTA Interim Secretary, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 05:42:19 +0000
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