'Binay used Boy Scout kickbacks to fund 2010 campaign'

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay allegedly pocketed nearly P200 million in kickbacks from a land deal between the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) and Alphaland Corp., former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado bared Thursday.

At the resumption of the Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee investigation, Mercado said the Binay-led BSP and Alphaland entered into a joint venture agreement in 2008 for the development of the BSP property along Malugay St. in Makati City.

Mercado, the former BSP senior vice president, claimed that he was asked by Binay to sign the joint venture agreement in the latter's behalf.

Under the agreement, Mercado said the BSP would earn 15 percent of the project while Alphaland would get 85 percent.

But Mercado said the BSP has yet to get hold of its share of P600 million while Binay, the longtime BSP president, has obtained five percent of the project, which has amounted to P188,973,460.

Mercado claimed that the funds were used for Binay's vice presidential bid.

"Kinuhanan ni VP Binay ng five percent ang mga Boy Scouts sa Alphaland deal para gamitin niya sa kanyang kampaya noong 2010 election," Mercado said. "Ang Boy Scouts ay wala pa ring natatanggap ni singko hanggang ngayon. Pero siya po, kumita na, nagamit na, napakinabanggan na."

"Naluto ang Boy Scouts sa sarili niyang mantika," he added.

Mercado said he will file a complaint against Binay at the Ombudsman today.

Read: Inspired by Pope Francis, ex-Makati vice mayor to sue Binay

In an interview with ANC before the Senate probe on Thursday, lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay's new political spokesman, dismissed the new allegations against his boss.

'Binay wanted to hide BSP from COA'

Mercado also claimed that Binay tried to prevent the Commission on Audit (COA) from looking into the BSP's finances.

He said Binay sent a letter to COA dated Nov. 26, 1999 to argue that the BSP should not be subject to audit.

"He argued that the Boy Scouts is detached from government," Mercado said.

The COA was able to audit the BSP in 2012 after the Supreme Court ruled that the latter was a government corporation.