The Crucial Binay Case
Posted on Wednesday, 22 October 2014
The
Crucial Binay Case
By Apolinario Villalobos
The Binay case will bring to light, who
among the contenders to the presidency, deserves the post. While the Binay camp
is obviously rattled under the pressure of mounting evidences that include
authentic testimonies, it went beyond decency by requesting a meeting with the
President. The latter move boomeranged, proving that Binay is surrounded with
unthinking counselors, for arrogantly releasing statements that it was the
President who initiated the meeting, which of course, the latter vehemently
denied. The denial of the President, added to the already deepening humiliation
of the desperate Binay camp.
A certain Atty. J Bautista even had the
temerity to show himself during the Senate hearing and “lectured” on the
committee. As he started speaking, viewers and listeners confirmed their
suspicion that the guy is just a typical lawyer who want to make impressions
even to the extent of making nonsensical statements. Sitting beside empty
seats, J Bautista was a forlorn picture of a helpless boy who lost a toy! His
antics made viewers wonder if indeed, he is a lawyer.
Jonvic Remulla made a mistake in
emphasizing smilingly in front of TV cameras that the billings and receipts
showed by former Makati Vice-mayor Mercado do not hold water as regards the
Binays’ ownership of a log cabin at Tagaytay Highlands. The fact that nobody
can be issued such documents if he does not own any property inside the
high-end housing complex has already been stated during the hearing, such being
a prevalent practice, so that the effort of Jonvic in blatantly thwarting the documents’ purpose,
just earned him added ridicule.
Jonvic Remulla should have distanced
himself from the Binay case in the first place. As the Revillas are becoming
more unpopular, the Caviteños turned to Jonvic Remulla as their hope in
regaining the respect for their tainted image. For them, he was clean, until he
dipped his fingers in the Binay case, even proudly championing the questionable
honesty of VP Binay, as spokesperson. He should have used his wise judgment if
he wants a clean image as a staunch fighter for justice which was expected of
him, ever since he entered the political arena after so many years of absence
of a representative from his clan. Now, his political opponents in Cavite must
be rejoicing.
The latest Senate hearing, conducted on
October 22, put to fore how greed could make a person sacrifice anything in
favor of a selfish quest. Tony Tiu, an accused dummy of the Binays, vehemently
claims with arrogance his being an honest businessman, until from his lips came
information about his political ambition. Simple analysis would show that Tiu
was banking on the Binays to prop up his ambitions both for more financial gain
and a crack at politics. Despite the technical facts pointing to his just being
a “rights owner” of the Hacienda Binay in Rosario, Cavite, he kept on insisting
otherwise. His brave allegations when interviewed a day before were crushed one
by one during the hearing, yet, he desperately tried to make a gallant stand to
show his “honesty”. His classmates in a reputable school could be squirming in
their seats while focusing their attention to TV monitors at home, seeing his
helpless look. The disastrous performance of his businesses shown on TV, just
pushed the guy deeper down the muck of embarrassment. Gone now is the image
that he has been desperately trying to project as a “successful” businessman.
Questions are mounting as to how he got the billions as his personal asset,
that he has been mumbling to show that in no way could he become a dummy of the
Binays, as he can afford to be equally rich as they.
The composure of Allan Peter Cayetano
earned him more respect. His calm statements showed that he knows what he has
been doing. Statements were carefully weighed and never did he stammer, even
showing humility in making an apology for a slight and insignificant oversight.
Not even the arrogant, nonsensical ranting of a JV Bautista changed his facial
expression, at the end, even thanking the guy for showing up on his own, unlike
VP Binay who kept on snubbing invitations. All the way, throughout the
proceedings, he exhibited unquestionable intelligence.
Cayetano expertly showed how the Binays
desperately, are trying to hide their ownership of properties by not
registering them in their name, as in the case of estates, although, payments
have been effected. The municipal towns in Cavite surrounding the Hacienda
Binay have alleged that their records do not show any Binay property. Very clearly,
Tony Tiu, though with a hint of confusion, insists on his ownership of the
hacienda although honestly claiming that what he paid does not represent the
total value of the property. The picture shown during the hearing was, with Tiu
“owning” the hacienda at this time, with the title to be given him as soon as
he completed the payment within at least two years. Meantime he “uses” the land
to supposedly plant exportable vegetables. But the catch is that if he “fails”
to pay the total value within the allotted period at least two years from now,
the property reverts back to the “real owner”. The year is a little beyond 2016
– past the election period for president. Binay is moving heaven and earth to
be in Malacaῆan, by then, during which, promised protections for sacrificing
allies would have been secured – if he will make it. That is how Cayetano explained the scenario
of how corrupt officials hide ill-gotten wealth.
As usual, the pluckiness of Senator
Trillanes did not help him much to gain
a good impression. He still is the guy who easily gives in to pressure, easily
intimidated, as several times, he almost became unreasonable in his statements.
He allowed himself, to be overcome by hatred.
Meanwhile, VP Binay has the gall to go
around Mindanao and campaign for his quest. He is so shamelessly vocal about it
this early, which shows a lack of decency on his part. He makes use of his
power as housing czar to gain popularity by distributing housing units which
the recipients deserve, in the first place. His desperation reached its climax
when he approached the president for help to bail him out of the scandalous
Senate hearing, thinking that he is a “valuable family friend”. He shamelessly
failed.
The Binay campaign slogan about what
happened in Makati during his time can happen to the Philippines when he
becomes the president, has become more appropriate as the Senate hearing is
gaining grounds in exposing unthinkable anomalies. What Filipinos now think is
that, if indeed, Binay makes it as president, what happened in Makati could
indeed, woefully happen to the whole Philippines. Some say, the Binays may even
convert the whole country into a vast business empire!...with the Filipinos
subsisting on cakes, instead of rice!
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