Trillanes, Pimentel inspect Makati school for signs of 'overpricing'

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV inspected the Makati Science High School on Saturday.

The visit serves part of the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee investigation on corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was former mayor of Makati City.

Lawyer Renato Bondal, among Binay's critics who is also under the government's witness protection, alleged in a Senate hearing on November 6 that the 10-storey school building along Kalayaan Avenue is overpriced by about P862 million.

Binay's accusers claim that the construction cost the government P1.3 billion.

Pimentel, the subcommittee's chair, and Trillanes were accompanied by members of the media and some school officials as they entered classrooms, library, dormitory areas, laboratories, canteen, library and other facilities of the school.

The educational institution's theater located in the top floors of the building, meanwhile, are still under construction.

Allegations of the Makati Science High School overpricing came after the lawmakers probed a 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas said to be owned by the Binay family.

The subcommittee's investigation originally focused on the allegedly excessive price of the Makati City Hall II construction.

Binay, however, denied that he embezzled public funds and insisted that his family only leases a small portion of the expansive hacienda.