Koko panel calls for forfeiture proceedings on Batangas property tagged as Binay's

See - Koko panel calls for forfeiture proceedings on Batangas property tagged as Binay's





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On top of recommending an Ombudsman's investigation for plunder, the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee chaired by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has called for forfeiture proceedings on the 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas allegedly owned by Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The draft committee report signed by 10 senators also asked the Ombudsman to investigate Binay and several others for violation of the code of ethics for state employees and non-disclosure of assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Forfeiture proceedings are also being pressed to be pursued against other alleged Binay co-conspirators while companies supposedly used as “dummies” were recommended for further investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The Koko panel found the Makati City Hall II Parking Building overpriced between P1.12 billion and almost P1.4 billion. The alleged anomalous transactions in its construction were, the report alleged, product of a collusion supposedly with 20 others, including Binay’s son, incumbent Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr.

The same panel report also declared the Vice President as the apparent real owner of the Batangas property and recommended the filing of charges against two private individuals, earlier reported to be the former and present owners – Antonio Tiu and Laureano Gregorio Jr. - for the alleged “grand conspiracy” to conceal ownership of the now controversial “hacienda.”

Reports about the plunder charges against the father and son, along with several others floated during last Thursday’s continuing Senate investigation on the allegations against Binay and in which initially, 19 others were said to be called to be charged as well with plunder.



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