Makati mayoral bet: No need for Comelec control of city

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City Vice Mayor and mayoralty candidate Ernesto Mercado said there is no need for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to place Makati City under its control to prevent election-related violent incidents.

He said the camp of his erstwhile ally, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, is playing up every crime as politically motivated even without presenting any proof. Binay’s son, Councilor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., is running for mayor.

“I am supportive of the idea to put Makati City under Comelec control only if there are credible proofs to justify such move, but if such action will be only based on views and empty political rhetoric by a few desperate politicians, I would lay my strongest objection against it before the law,” Mercado said in a statement.

This developed after one of Binay’s top aides, Gerry Limlingan, was reported to have been ambushed in Cainta last March 13. Last week, Binay supporter Bernardo Olarte, was killed.

However, Mercado said Tomas Ledda, brother-in-law of the victim, brushed aside claims that the killing was politically motivated since Olarte was not actively partipating in any political activities.

The Olarte family expressed hope they get justice for the murder of Bernardo as soon as possible, away from the intervention of politicians.

The National Capital Region Police Office last week announced that it is seriously studying a request by the elder Binay and will submit a recommendation to Comelec soon.

The younger Binay’s camp, however, criticized Mercado for his shifting position on the issue of Comelec control over the city.

“The vice mayor’s behavior on certain issues has been erratic. He says one thing and then contradicts himself in a matter of days. This is not the trait we expect from someone who aspires to be mayor of the country’s financial center,” Binay spokesman Lito Anzures said.

Mercado, Binay swap claims over P1.2-B back taxes

Mercado urged yesterday the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to suspend the seizure of the Makati City government’s assets to cover its P1.2-billion tax deficiency.

Mercado made the call to the BIR in reaction to the agency’s issuance of a “warrant of levy” last Wednesday on the city government’s assets.

“I urge the BIR to be more flexible on this matter because the city hall cannot just stop delivering services to the public or suspend the salaries due to city hall employees,” Mercado said.

The BIR is set to garnish the city government’s bank accounts and properties, including the city hall building, to collect the tax deficiency that stemmed from alleged non-payment of employees’ withholding taxes from 1999 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2004.

Mercado also called on city hall officials to stop turning the tax deficiency into a political issue and just “actively seek an appropriate settlement with the BIR.”

Anzures, however, brushed aside Mercado’s proposal as “simplistic and an unsound business approach.”

Anzures said the city government maintains it does not owe the BIR, though it is hopeful that a settlement with the BIR can be reached. He said the BIR’s “sudden hardline position smacks of political harassment.”