Cayetano to bare documents showing VP Binay owns Batangas property

© Provided by GMA News Online l AMITA O. LEGASPI

All documents lead to Vice President Jejomar Binay as the owner of the 350-hectare property in Batangas, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday, a day before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee resumes its hearing on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

Cayetano said he will debunk on Wednesday's hearing businessman Antonio Tiu's claim that he and not Binay owns the sprawling estate in Rosario town, which is said to be part of the Binay family's hidden wealth.

“Kung sinabi niyang P440 million ang bili niya, nasaan ang dokumento? Kailan pumasok? Nasaan ang katunayan nito? We’ve looked over the documents and so far there is no proof na yung sinasabi niya ay totoo,” Cayetano told reporters, referring to Tiu. “He has a lot of explaining to do.”

Cayetano said that based on his own research, Binay and his family own the property.

“I welcome being proven wrong kasi ang hinahanap naman natin dito hindi durugin ang isang tao pero malaman ang  buong katotohanan. Walang papel na mate-trace na kay Mr. Tiu ito. Pero lahat ng ebidenisya so far shows na sa mga Binay ito,” he said.

Cayetano said among the evidence would be pictures of people who have visited the so-called Binay farm over the decade.

Dummy firms

He also said they have documents on the alleged dummy corporations of Binay, who is facing plunder in connection with the Makati City Hall Building II controversy.

“Kung maipapakita na ito ay lehitimong kumpanya at hindi ito dummy corporation [ay] maiiba yung usapan. But so far sa aming research lumalabas na ginamit lang itong lahat at actually nakatagong ari-arian ng mga Binay ito,” Cayetano said.

Tiu, who was invited to the Senate hearing on Wednesday, earlier denied that he is a dummy of Binay, describing the accusation as baseless.

Tiu is the chief executive officer of Greenergy Holdings Inc., which owns Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corporation where the leased piggery of Binay was located.

Binay had also denied owning the property.

Binay attendance

Cayetano expressed hope Tiu’s expected presence in the hearing Wednesday would force Binay to also appear before the subcommittee.

“I welcome the opportunity and we will be very fair with him and allow him to explain,” he said.

“I hope that after the hearing tomorrow dahil sa mga testimony na nalatag, dahil sa testimony ni Mr. Tiu ay mapipilitan na si Vice President Binay na um-appear at pakinggan yung walo sa sampung Pilipino na nagsasabing VP binay humarap ka sa issue,” he added, referring to the recent Social Weather Stations survey showing that 79% of respondents want Binay to attend the Senate probe.  

Cayetano said he was informed by blue ribbon chairman Senator Teofisto Guingona III that the mother committee will be meeting on October 28.

“Umaasa ako na on that date may mga pipirmahang contempt at mga order of arrest especially kay Ebeng [Baloloy] at [Gerry] Limlingan na lumalabas sila ang nasa lahat ng kumpanya, hawak nila ang pera ng mga Binay allegedly,” he said.

He said they have already received tips on the whereabouts of Baloloy and Limlingan, alleged aide and finance officer of Binay, respectively. — KBK/ELR, GMA News