By: Czarina Nicole O. Ong
The camp of former Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and his son, former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, cried foul over the Office of Ombudsman’s recommendation to file graft and falsification charges against them before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the construction of the Makati Science High School in 2007.
Binay spokesperson Joey Salgado slammed Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales over her “hasty indictment,” adding that her allegation against the Binays “smacks of hypocrisy.”
He said that she disregarded due process by failing to ask the Binays to answer the allegations first over the construction of the said building.
“In her haste to indict (the former Vice President), the Ombudsman committed the unforgivable act of denying him his right to answer the allegations against him,” said Salgado.
Salgado added that Morales conducted the preliminary investigation against the former vice president during his term of service despite a Constitutional prohibition.
Even after Binay’s term ended in July 2016, the Ombudsman still did not bother to call him in order to answer the allegations.
Salgado added that the Binays will file a motion for reconsideration since Ombudsman investigators failed to find any evidence that proves the construction of the building was overpriced.
