Makati Building II issue starting to get DOJ’s interest

As more and more information are coming out in connection with the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is becoming more and more interested in taking part in the investigation.

“The more na may lumalabas na mga information, evidence, detalye na yan, mga testimonya na yan, the more na nagiging interesado kami na makialam,” Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters after the Senate hearing on their proposed DOJ budget for 2015.

Asked if they will conduct a separate probe, De Lima said they could conduct a separate one but there is a possibility that it will be consolidated with other investigation.

“Ordinarily, it’s separate but there’s a point nako-consolidate tulad nga nung nangyari sa PDAF [Priority Development Assistance Fund]. Separate yung NBI [National Bureau of Investigation], separate yung FIO [Field Investigation Office of Ombusman]. Kinonsolidate yung resulta sa NBI at FIO. So baka ganun din dito,” she said.

However, as of Thursday, she said there is no basis for them to start a preliminary investigation.

Binay

De Lima believes Vice President Jejomar Binay has to explain his side on the matter, noting the widespread publicity the issue has gathered.

“Syempre nasa kanya yan, decision nya yan kung magpapaliwanag sya or hindi pero lalo na kung marami na sa mga taong nanonood ay naniniwala or find these witnesses as credible, I think the more na maco-compel siya to explain his side,” she said.

De Lima also believes former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who accused Binay of receiving kickbacks from city projects, is a credible witness as he was involved in the anomalies he exposed.

“Pwede natin i-categorize si vice mayor as whistleblower kasi involved sila dati, nakasama siya dati dyan sa mga alleged anomalies and irregularities na yan. In fact, inamin nila, ina-admit nya yan sa mga testimonies nya,” she said.

De Lima said whistleblowers in alleged irregularities are considered credible because of their inside knowledge of the issue.

“They know what they’re talking about because they are right there. Involved sila...  So I think, on the whole, you can consider these testimonies as credible,” she said.

Witness Protection Program

On Mercado’s chopper trip to Binay's alleged property in Rosario, Batangas, De Lima said she was not aware of it but she would not prevent the former Makati official for doing it if it will strengthen his testimony.

“Kung sabihin nya na kailangan kong gawin ito dahil gusto kong masuportahan or ma-corroborate or mas ma strengthen yung mga evidence, so pwede siguro payagan,” she added.

Mercado is under the WPP, together with lawyer Renato Bondal and Nicholas Enciso VI.

De Lima, however, said they discourage Mercado from disclosing their WPP coverage and from unnecessary travel as this would expose them to their enemies.

“Ia-advise ko yang si former Vice Mayor Mercado na  huwag niyang idi-disclose yung mga ganyan and in fact he has no authority to be disclosing details with respect to his WPP coverage. I think di niya alam na bawal mag-disclose ng kung ano exactly ang coverage with WPP habang buhay pa yung coverage,” she said.

She noted that there had been witnesses who violated WPP restrictions and were removed from the program.  She also cited one witness who was killed after he bolted out of the WPP safehouse.

“Si Alfred Mendiola, remember namatay yun. Sa case ng Dominguez brothers. Dahil umalis sya, trinansfer na nga namin yung safehouse niya from Bulacan to somewhere else, kaso tumakas siya doon sa safehouse na hindi alam ng mga implementers. After a few days napatay siya,” said De Lima.  —KBK, GMA News