(‘ Newsbreak’ investigative report published March 28, 2001) “ The Binays acquired the first chunk of the land – 16.6 hectares – in 1991. Former farm hands recalled having started working there in 1993, disclosing that they saw the former mayor there almost every week at the time.Two hours away from Makati City, in the agricultural town of Rosario in Batangas, a sprawling, modern, 66-hectrae farm is owned by the Binays of Makati. A conservative estimate of the land’s worth is put at P23 million, excluding the improvements made in recent years such as the construction of two huge houses, a piggery, orchidarium, a cock farm; and the paving of a hilly road that would connect the farm to other areas in the town” “At least fifteen contractors, former employees and farm hands were interviewed, sources privy to transactions, as well as local residents who saw Jejomar Binay inspected these properties, and who all confirmed his ownership of these properties. Without these testimonies, it would be difficult to trace ownership to him because documents, if they are available at all, do not link him or his family members to the properties.” “In Makati city where there had been an accumulation of tremendous wealth, it is said that the former Mayor Binay himself had amassed riches by tolerating the collusion between the city’s building contractors and permits officials. It is common knowledge in Makati that permits that City Hall gives to builders of condominiums sometimes come with a hefty, under-the-table price.” “The other real assets declared by the couple in their most recent SAL were either inherited, purchased, or mortgaged to them before they dabbled in public service. Two of these properties were inherited – one in 1951, in Cabagan, Isabela; and the other, with an unspecified date, in San Pascual, Batangas. Three were purchased – Alabang Hills, Muntinlupa (1964); Mariveles in Bataan (1965); and San Antonio Village in Makati (1977).” “Of the eight declared properties, three are classified as agricultural while five are residential. The residential properties include the ones in Cavite; Makati; Muntinlupa; San Pedro (acquired in 1964) and Calamba (1984), Laguna. The Bataan, Isabela, and Batangas properties are agricultural.”
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 13:03:36 +0000
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