Complainants: Binay building overpriced by higher amount

Critics of the Vice President file a supplemental complaint with the Ombudsman supposedly showing the Makati building is 'more scandalously overpriced' than they initially thought

MANILA, Philippines Complainants against Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, Makati Mayor Erwin Jejomar Binay Jr, filed a supplemental complaint with the Ombudsman on Monday, August 18, to cite a higher amount by which a Makati government building was allegedly overpriced.

In a 9-page supplemental complaint, Renato Bondal and Nicolas "Ching" Enciso VI cited a Commission on Audit (COA) memorandum showing 8 ordinances passed by the Makati city council allocating a total of P2.71 billion ($62 million)* for the construction of the disputed building.

Again comparing the new figure with data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) a method that Mayor Binay have disputed Bondal and Enciso said the building's construction was overpriced by at least P1.9 billion ($43 million*).

This is higher than what was cited in their initial complaint, which said the final contract price for the parking building was pegged at P1.56 billion ($35 million). The building, they said, was "even more scandalously overpriced" than they initially thought.

The building's construction covered the years 2007 to 2013, which included the terms of two Binays as the city's chief executive.

The senior Binay was Makati mayor from 2007 to 2010, while his son and co-accused is the incumbent.

New evidence prepared by co-accused

The complainants are now using as evidence a memorandum prepared by COA supervising auditor Cecilia Caga-anan. The document was supposedly a report submitted to Caga-anan's superiors.

Bondal and Enciso claim the document "indubitably provides the ammunition" to their charges.

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Complainants: Binay building overpriced by higher amount