Mansions and other luxurious properties by public officials are offensive to the people because they are concrete and graphic images of greed and abuse or betrayal of public trust. Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who was the Binay’s trusted bagman until their falling out before the 2010 elections, gave detailed description of the estate which boggles the mind of ordinary Filipinos. Mercado said the money used in the construction and maintenance of the Batangas farm came from Makati City construction projects. It’s the money of the people of Makati. Mercado maybe a shady character himself but then “it takes a thief to catch a thief.” Dr. Elenita Binay, who had served also a mayor of Makati for one term (1998-2001), “did not want to smell the pigs and she did not want flies.” Dr. Binay, who is an orchid lover, has a vast orchid farm which boasts of rare species from other countries. But the pièce de résistance in the property, Mercado said, is a maze garden similar to the Kew Gardens in London. Mercado said he was sent to London in 2007 upon the instruction of Mrs. Binay to see the Kew Gardens because she wanted one in their Batangas property.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 02:46:21 +0000
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