One of Binay’s accusers facing disbarment case before SC

MANILA, Philippines - Lawyer Renato Bondal, one of the accusers of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the allegedly overpriced construction of Makati City Hall parking building, is facing a disbarment case before the Supreme Court (SC) for alleged bigamy.

The complaint was filed by Eduardo Iridio, a resident of Makati City where Bondal ran for mayor in the 2013 elections but lost.

In a two-page complaint filed last Aug. 11, the SC was asked to disbar Bondal for “gross immoral conduct for contracting a second marriage while his first marriage is still subsisting.”

Bondal, a known political rival of the Binay family, married Rutchie Barcelona on March 19, 1997 before Makati Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 64 Judge Felicidad Navarro-Quiambao of Branch 65.

Iridio claimed that Bondal then married Janice Ramos, who is 20 years younger, on July 2, 2011 at the Malate Catholic Church solemnized by Father Daniel O’Malley.

Iridio also said that Bondal even tried to hide his identity by adding the second name “Lou” in his second marriage certificate. But marriage documents in both marriages showed the same date of birth, address and names of parents of Bondal.

With this, Iridio alleged that Bondal violated Section 27, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, which considers “grossly immoral conduct” as ground for suspension or removal of a member of the Bar.

“His privilege to practice law should be withdrawn because abandoning his first wife and children and taking a second wife 20 years younger than him, clearly shows that he is leading a life not in accordance with the highest moral standards of the community,” the complaint said.

Aside from this, Iridio said Bondal also violated Article 349 of the Revised Penal Code, which imposes a penalty of imprisonment from six years to 12 years for bigamy.

When sought for comment, Bondal just laughed off the complaint.

Bondal said that he and Barcelona have been divorced years ago and that the divorce proceedings took place in Tahoma City, California after Barcelona became an American citizen.  – With Edith Regalado, Paolo Romero