Vice President Jejomar Binay (left), his son Makati Mayor Junjun Binay (right) and 23 others face plunder case over the alleged 鈥渦nconscionable overpricing鈥� in the construction of an 11-story parking building (inset) that the city government supposedly built for P1.56 billion. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines鈥揂n anti-graft group staged a protest Thursday in Makati City to demand accountability from the corrupt acts allegedly committed by Makati City Mayor听Jejomar听Erwin 鈥淛unjun鈥澨鼴inay, Vice President听Jejomar听Binay听and their cohorts.
United Makati Against Corruption (UMAC) also offered white roses in front of the听Ninoy听Aquino monument at Ayala Avenue. The roses had strips saying 鈥淪ave Makati Against Corruption.鈥�
The group marched from Greenbelt Chapel after holding a 鈥淢ass Against Corruption鈥� at 9 a.m. The mass was officiated by Most Reverend听Deogracias听S.听I帽iguez听Jr., D.D., Bishop of Caloocan. Attorney Atty. Renato听Bondal,听Binay鈥檚听accuser and听convenor听of UMAC, also attended the mass.
Kin Paredes, UMAC spokesperson, said that the protest was also held to commemorate the 31st death anniversary of former Senator听Benigno听Aquino Jr.
鈥淭he Senate must continue with the investigation and find out who pocketed the money derived from the overpricing of the Makati building. For all we know, the fruits of plunder were spent for the luxury homes of the听Binays,鈥澨鼴ondal听said in a statement.
The protesters were from Barangays (villages) West听Rembo,听Cembo, Sta. Cruz,听Palanan听and other barangays from districts one and two of the city.
A Senate hearing was conducted Wednesday to probe on the alleged overpricing of the construction of what Mayor听Binay听claimed as the annex of the Makati City Hall.听Bondal听claimed during the hearing that this building is one of the many allegedly overpriced projects implemented under the听Binays鈥櫶齡overnment.
Mayor听Binay听refuted the claims, saying that they were politically-motivated that the building was not overpriced.
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