Binay on Aurora lots: Napalagay lang pangalan ko

MANILA - Vice President Jejomar Binay denied Monday a report that he is the administrator of more than 2 hectares of land in Dingalan, Aurora province, saying his name was only placed in the documents without his knowledge.

In an interview, Binay criticized the Philippine Daily Inquirer for issuing a report that said he is the administrator of the property but not the owner.

"Etong sinasabing ito sa Inquirer, tangan nila yung papeles. Ewan ko kung bakit nila ilalabas iyan. Hindi naman nakalagay doon na ako ang may-ari. Napalagay lang ang pangalan ko," he told reporters.

The Inquirer report earlier named four different owners of the lots that were allegedly being administered by Binay. The four were identified as Marilou Flora, Ronnie Francia, Dalia Conchada and Domingo Conchada.

The Inquirer said copies of declarations of real property from the provincial government showed Binay as the administrator of the four lots. It said the properties were assessed between Aug. 5 and 9, 2011.

Binay, however, said that "before God and man," he does not know the owner of the property.

"Yung dokumento nakalagay doon mismo. Iba yung may-ari. Napalagay lang ang pangalan ko doon. 'Di sana imbestigahan naman ninyo. Paano naman napunta pangalan ko? Hindi ko naman kilala yung babae. Parang nakalagay lang doon, Petra dela Cruz, owner, administrator, care of Binay, Jejomar. Issue na naman 'yun," he said.

Asked directly if has property in Dingalan, he told reporters that the accusations are the handiwork of his former vice-mayor, Ernesto Mercado.

MERCADO'S CHALLENGE

Mercado earlier told radio DZMM that Binay purchased 7 hectares of land in Barangay Matawi in Dingalan, Aurora when he was still mayor of Makati.

He said he was instructed by Binay to purchase the land in 1998-1999 after learning that there would be a port there.

Mercado claimed Binay used to raise chickens there but stopped because the area was not ideal for that type of business.

He said the titles for the property remained in his possession until he had a falling-out with the Binays before the 2010 elections. He said he gave up the four titles to Binay's daughter to see if the vice president would honor his word that they would split ownership of the land.

"Para matesting kung parehas siya ng pakikituring sa akin, pinadala ko lahat ng titulo kahit ang usapan ay hati kami. Pero hindi na ako kumibo, wala namang binalik sa akin. Hanggang nayong, nasa kanila pa rin yung apat na titulo duon," he said.

He said he also received word that Binay's lawyer, Martin Subido, had visited Dingalan this year in an effort to transfer the titles.

"Hindi kasi nakapangalan sa kanila yung lupa pero sa mga taong nandun sa Dingalan. Hindi nila alam kung paano papipirmahin," he said.

Mercado said he is willing to divulge everything he knows about the Dingalan property if it is raised at the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing.

The former vice-mayor earlier accused Binay of pocketing millions of pesos in kickbacks for various infrastructure projects in Makati including the P2.2 billion Makati City Hall Building II.