ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Binays, others acquitted in 23 cases on P2.2-B Makati City Hall Parking Building

Binays, others acquitted in 23 cases on P2.2-B Makati City Hall Parking Building

Published Aug 22, 2025 04:30 pm
Former vice president Jejomar "Jojo" Binay and his son, former Makati City mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay, were acquitted by the Sandiganbayan of their 23 criminal cases involving the alleged overpriced contracts in the P2.2 billion Makati City Hall Parking Building.
The elder Binay was acquitted in four counts of graft, two counts of malversation, and seven counts of falsification. His son, on the other hand, was acquitted in three counts of graft, one count of malversation, and seven counts of falsification.
The other Makati City Hall officials and private individuals similarly cleared of the charges were Makati City Administrator Marjorie A. de Veyra, Legal Officer Pio Kenneth I. Dasal, and Budget Officer Lorenza P. Amores were found not guilty of all 23 criminal charges.
Also acquitted were Bids and awards committee (BAC) member Gerardo K. San Gabriel in seven falsification and one graft charge; BAC Technical Working Group member Rodel R. Nayve in four graft charges; and City Engineer Mario V. Badillo in three graft, one malversation, and three falsification charges.
Other officials cleared were Central Planning Management Office Chief Line M. Dela Peña was cleared in four graft charges; Civil Engineer Connie N. Consulta in one graft charge; City Accountant Raydes B. Pestaño in two graft and one malversation charge; Acting City Administrator Eleno M. Mendoza Jr. in one graft charge; and City Treasurer Nelia A. Barlis in four graft and one malversation charge.
Private individuals acquitted were Efren M. Canlas of Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation in four graft charges, and Orlando M. Mateo of MANA Architecture and Interior Design Co. in one graft charge.
Also acquitted of the charges were Central Planning Chief Virginia S. Hernandez in one graft and one malversation charge; City Accountant Leonila Querijero in three graft charges; BAC Secretariat member Giovanni I. Condes in three graft charges, one malversation charge, and five falsification charges; Civil Engineer Arnel L. Cadangan in three graft charges, and BAC Secretariat member Ulysses E. Orienza in one graft charge.
The cases against Civil Engineer Emerito C. Magat, City Accountant Cecilio P. Lim III, and BAC Secretariat Manolito N. Uyaco have been ordered dismissed due to their deaths.
"Particularly, the prosecution has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the statements contained in the assailed documents were absolutely false. Consequently, the allegation of conspiracy must also fail," the decision stated.
The anti-graft court also said that the prosecution "miserably failed" to prove the required quantum of evidence in all 23 cases, so the Binays and their co-accused should be acquitted of the crimes charged.
The 201-page decision was written by Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Ronald B. Moreno with the concurrence of Associate Justices Gener M. Gito and Edgardo M. Caldona.
The criminal charges stemmed from the alleged manipulation by the Binays in favoring Hilmarc's Construction Corporation and MANA Architecture and Interior Design Co. for the construction of the parking building despite the suppliers' reported failure to deliver approved plans and specifications under the contract.
The Binays and other city officials and private individuals had earlier denied the charges filed against them.
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.