Binay son asked to explain P50-million Makati house

MANILA, Philippines - A group of senior citizens in Makati City asked Councilor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay yesterday to explain how his family acquired a house reportedly worth P50 million in Barangay San Antonio.

“Junjun should explain who really owns that mansion, where he held the wake for his wife last year,” Susan Gabuya of Barangay San Antonio said, referring to the mansion at 8776 Banuyo street in Barangay San Antonio.

The wake of Binay’s wife, Kennely Ann Lacia-Binay, who died while giving birth, was held at the house, which Gabuya described as “a three-floor structure sitting on a property bounded by Banuyo, Santol and Catmon streets and has a Schindler elevator and a five-car garage. We have been working for decades, but our home is only as large as the Binay’s garage.”

Gabuya said residents in the village have been told that the mansion costs P50 million. “We want to know how Junjun was able to buy a house like that although he keeps on saying that he has no other income aside from his salary at city hall,” she ssaid.

Gabuya cited a news report where Binay said he had no business at the moment and the only source of his personal income was his salary as a city councilor.

He also said he lived at the Binay family’s official residence on Caong street, which is four blocks away from the Banuyo mansion.

“We have been seeing Junjun and his siblings since they were very young. We cannot understand how a councilor, or even a mayor, can buy a P50 million mansion if his only source of income is his salary from city hall,” Gabuya said.

Binay's spokesman said the mayoralty candidate is set to hold a press conference today to answer allegations against him.