Senate probe on 'overpriced' Makati parking building resumes

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee continues today its investigation into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall II parking building.

The Senate hearing scheduled at 10 a.m. is expected to be attended again by Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay, who faces a plunder complaint over the controversy along with his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay and several others.

Renato Bondal, the lawyer who filed the case against the Binays, alleged in the first Senate hearing last week that the parking building was overpriced by up to 300 percent.

He also claimed that other infrastructure projects of the Binays such as the Makati City Hall and the Makati City Science High School building were also overpriced.

Bondal further alleged that the birthday cakes given by the Makati City government to its senior citizens were also overpriced by around P1,000 each.

The Binays and the Makati City government have denied the allegations.

Bondal said in a television interview on Friday that "a lot more surprising facts" on the controversy could be revealed in today's hearing as new resource persons are expected to attend the probe, including Hilmarcs Construction Corp., the contractor of the Makati parking building.

Makati mayor Binay is also expected to show during the hearing documents related to the alleged overpriced buildings and cakes.

Commission on Audit chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan said last week they will conduct a special audit of the alleged overpriced parking building.