Inside Philippine politics & beyond

I’m posting my entire interview with VP Binay so his spokesman can listen and defend him better

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By Raïssa Robles

Over two weeks ago when I posted my piece  entitled Binay told me in 2010 he had bought – not leased – the land for his piggery, Vice President Jejomar Binay and/or his political advisers chose to ignore it.

However, some eagled-eyed Senate officials apparently saw it, which is the only reason I can give for why they subpoenaed me to explain the story to the Senate Blue Ribbon sub-committee hearing on October 30.

After I testified, no less than Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla – VP Binay’s “spokesman for political concerns” -suddenly  issued the following reaction:

I have three questions for Remulla:

1, Why did it take more than two weeks for the Vice President and his advisers to react to my story?

2, Before I wrote the story I called another Binay spokesperson, Joey Salgado, to ask for the Vice President’s side. He did not give me the explanation that Remulla is now giving.

3, Why is it that NOWHERE in the one hour interview that I conducted with Binay in 2010 did the Vice President give the explanation that Remulla is now venturing

Don’t take my word for it – see for yourself. I am posting at the end of this piece the ENTIRE interview for all to listen.

The corruption probe of VP Binay reminds me of a line from Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets. Frost wrote:

“We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows.”

I believe one of the keys to unlocking the secret is my taped interview with VP Binay on June 29, 2010. The VP mentioned no Agrifortuna. I had asked him about his PERSONAL PROPERTY and we were clearly talking about PERSONAL PROPERTY.

Remulla ended his statement with this admonition:

“I think we need to be reminded that before jumping to hasty conclusions, even journalists need a clear grasp of all the facts.”

While I appreciate Remulla’s no-doubt sincere attempt to hold forth about a profession he doesn’t practice, let me give my own caution: I think we need to be reminded that before we listen to the cobbled together excuses of spin doctors we need to get a clear grasp of the facts.

In particular I’d like to point out how Remulla issued a statement a week ago that was the complete opposite of the truth. Remulla claimed that during VP Binay’s recent meeting with President Benigno Aquino, the latter had asked the VP how he could help amid “all the lies and baseless accusations” against the VP and his wife.

But in fact, President Aquino himself said:

“I didn’t offer to help.”

Perhaps Governor Jonvic did not like the fact that President Aquino told me during the FOCAP forum that Remulla got the details of VP Binay’s meeting with Aquino wrong. I guess Remulla never thought that Aquino would be so blunt.

In the case of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, its Sub-Committee was particularly interested in two sections of my interview, which lasted all of one hour, 26 minutes and 15 seconds.

Here is the transcript of those sections:

At 28:05 minutes

Raissa: So okay, are people – do you think when you talk to people yung ordinary people do you think they tell you want you want to hear or they tell you what they really feel?

VP Binay: It’s an open dialogue. I came from that point.

Raissa: I came –

VP Binay:  I came from that sector and I can speak and feel – kung ano talaga yung buhay sa lupa. So that’s what I will say, I’ve been fortunate that I grew up the hard way. So alam ko kung ano yung hirap dahil nasa como ako mahirap.

Raissa: So parang you not only have empathy, you’ve lived their life.

VP Binay: Oo naman eh kasi when I was with my uncle he wakes me up at 5 o clock. magwawalis ka na sa paligid ilalabas mo na yung mga manok, tapos ng almusal, mamamalengke tapos makapamalengke, maglalaba. Pagtapos maglaba, mag-aaral na for my class is-

Raissa: Kayo yung naglalaba?

VP Binay: Oo naman ako ung naglalaba. Hindi naman ako ipaglalaba ng mga katulong. Nakakatuwa yung buhay sa tiyo ko, Sa oras ng pagkain, kasama ko yung pamilya ng tiyo ko. After eating you become part already of (inaudible) gagawa ng kaning baboy

Raissa: Totoo yan sir ha?

VP Binay: Iniisip mo bang gumagawa ako ng istorya?

Raissa: Hindi kasi eh. Yung kay Villar, e.

VP Binay: Eh di ipagtanong mo dun sa kilala (inaudible) ng kaning baboy

Raissa: And then you sell that?

VP Binay: No, mahilig kasi mag alaga yung tiyo ko ng mga hayop. Meron kaming mga baboy or mga kambing. Pero marami siyang manok pang sabong

Raissa: So baboy, kambing, manok at saka pang sabong. Kayo sir, now? do you own– for cockfighting?

VP Binay: Uhh mga pang cock fight, di naman ako pumupunta sa cockfight.

Raissa: Kayo Sir, but you own…

VP Binay: Saka natutuwa lang ako makita yung iba ibang kulay. (inaudible) Number two, e lumilinis ang kapaligiran kapag may mga mano (inaudible)

Raissa: Ilan sir ang manok nyo – for cock fight?

VP Binay: (inaudible) Sila namamahala dun. Nakalagay lang dun sa lugar (inaudible)

Raissa: So hindi nyo alam sir kung how many?

VP Binay: Hindi ako familiar doon. Basta it’s more than a hundred.

Raissa: And these are from US? Or Australia?

VP Binay: Yun yatang breed nun eh galing sa states. Meron pa sa Australia , (inaudible) natin sa Australia, basically 

Raissa: Sa US.

VP Binay: Sa US yon.

                                                                                                              * * *

At 39:54 minutes 

Raissa : Ah, There’s another thing that I need to ask you, sir. Um, lumabas – may nilabas na extensive report tungkol sa inyo ang Newsbreak. I think that was 2001. But according to them, sinagot niyo naman yung mga, yung mga allegations doon. What I want to ask you is – How many houses, condos, properties do you own?

VP Binay:Tipo lang ni Monsod ang nagsasabi niyan.

Raissa: Hindi , hindi. I don’t care about Monsod, Sir.

Binay:Kasi inulit na naman yung charges na yan. Condos, bahay.

Raissa: Hindi, pero, is it, is it – I mean, ok. Personally, I mean , kung anuhin nyo yung family, how many do you own? Houses –

Binay:Yung bahay namin at saka yung bahay namin sa Batangas (inaudible).

Raissa: Wala nang condo –

Binay:Condo, dati yung anak ko nakatira sa condo. Ngayon nakatira sa bahay. ..(garbled)

Raissa: Ngayon sa bahay na lang.

Binay: O may bahay na siya. Meron syang bahay na (inaudible). Siya na lang wala dito sa bahay namin.

Raissa: Ah, Ok.

Binay:Lahat ng anak ko, at saka yung apo ko, second apo ko kay Abigail, yun lang ang wala dito.

Raissa: Sir, yung Batangas is how many hectares?

Binay:Meron akong isang babuyan doon. (garbled)

Raissa: Mga 10 hectares? Eleven?

Binay:Ya.

Raissa: Mga around 10 hectares. Namana nyo yoon?

Binay:Binili ko.

Raissa: Aaah. Ok.

Raissa: Ten –

Binay:Mga 3 sentimos lang yata yon. 30 pesos.

Raissa: Thirty – pesos per –

Binay:Per square meter…

Raissa: Oo.

And here is the entire recorded interview: 

 

Comments

  1. The last person you may listen to in this world is a politician-cum-spokesman for another politician.

    This is the case of Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla who has no better job to do except to peddle lies from a pathological liar. Public relations is not about public exhortation, neither is it about reaching out to the populace with undignified and unverifiable statements.

    Binay and his minions got it all wrong. Public relations and media campaigns, in the internet age, are not enough for the people to think otherwise. Specific information and data management are the keys if they want Binay to sail out smoothly until 2016. Unfortunately, those are the things they don’t have.

    Case in point – Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado came out with detailed information on the unexplained wealth of the Binays. The Rosario, Batangas property itself could be a prima facie evidence of ill-gotten wealth. To make matter worse, Sen. Cayetano provided the circumstantial evidences.

    Until now Binay could not provide his own data to show the people. Generalities and other niceties are a thing of the past. Without nothing to prove that he is innocent, Binay is already presumed by the people to be guilty of plunder and money laundering as a logical course.

  2. Good morning Raissa, is it possible for you to do investigative jouno on the Subido law firm, as to its complicity in Binay’s affair? Maybe you can ask your follower/reader to submit photos of the lawyers visiting the hacienda? We need to exposed the particiipation of the lawyers in the coverup of corruptions. Could they be disbarred if proven they participated in it?
    Thanks and regards, do take care and watch your six!

  3. I actually can’t believe that the Binay’s spokesmen and spin doctors weren’t grilled even more after PNoy basically destroyed their illusion by saying he never offered to help.

    Then they gatecrashed the hearing for what? To present medical records that had absolutely nothing to do with the issue? (It’s actually funny how they managed to come up with more documents detailing a hospital stay than Tiu did to prove ownership.) But here’s the punchline: a report about UERM saying that they have no records of Mercado (INQ: “UERM: No record of Mercado as patient”, Oct 31, 2014). So what was all the commotion about? Were the gatecrashers holding fake documents?

    It’s still beside the point though. They want to argue about a hospital stay in a hearing about overpricing and unexplained wealth. If I were Binay, I’d slap them silly for issuing flimsy statements that are easily debunked.

  4. Hindi ba kayo nagtataka na sa lahat ng kumpanya ni Tiu, ang Sunchamp lang ang naiba ang pangalan? Ito ay sa dahilang ang Sunchamp ay codename ng tunay ba may-ari ng hacienda.

    SUN – sunog sa araw
    CHAMP – kaya kulay champorado

    Eh sino ba ang mahilig gamitin ang kulay sunog sa araw at kulay champorado nyang balat para magkunwaring poor?

    • Yea…but you are NOT SURE about the BALLS and the BATTER…protected by layers of covering materials: long pair of pants, short pairs of pants, purontong or BRIEFS!

      Iba ang kulay dyan. Ano? Pinky-black!

      hahaha

    • http://sf.blockshopper.com/property/030142030/371_barbara/

      Some curious facts about the above address. It lists the Gregorio couple as the current homeowners of this $2 million Hillsborough California mansion. However it was bought from the previous owner by another party who must have fronted for the couple as there was no record of a subsequent resale. Why? The sale of the residence took place in January 2013 which if the MOA was authentic would place Gregorio in the Philippines transacting with Tiu and staying at his long time home in Xavierville, Loyola Heights. What is also interesting is after the mansion was purchased, it was listed for rent at $6,300 a month. However this listing was withdrawn suggesting possibly a change in plans as to where the couple wanted to stay.

      http://hotpads.com/rentals/371-Barbara-Way-Hillsborough-CA-94010–175bdu59wgtr5#limit=5&lat=37.549102783203&lon=-122.36834716797&zoom=20&previewId=175bdu59wgtr5&previewType=listing&detailsOpen=true&listingTypes=rental,sublet,room,corporate&propertyTypes=house,divided,condo,townhouse,medium,large,garden,&dupeGrouping=building

    • I wrote a post comment that was submitted and either disappeared or will duplicate this post. But below apparently is the Gregorio’s home away from home in California.

      http://sf.blockshopper.com/property/030142030/371_barbara/

      Listed as the current homeowners, the $2 million home was purchased by another party who might have fronted for them. Why? Because the sale took place January of 2013 when Laureano was meeting with Tiu on the sale of the Sunchamp park and the couple was staying in their longtime home in Xavierville.

    • The one page MOA is NOT enforceable even between the two parties not withstanding its non notarized format and is designed solely to be a piece of necessary documentary fabrication to provide something to the Senate committee. This could be because there is no real agreement in the first place, or the real document is between Dra Binay and some other party – maybe Sunchamp, or maybe not.

      But the overriding motive is to deflect and delay.

      Even as a fabrication it is amateurish but this could be because Subido, who is already skating on very thin ice, is desperately trying to avoid any possible disbarment proceedings. His ‘laid back’ body language belies his increasing anxiety. He is being made to look incompetent and is I suspect, the laughing stock of the legal profession. His conflict of interest client Antonio Tiu doesn’t appear to stick to the script and I perceive there is a growing rift between them.

      Consider just these few points and an expert will have many more

      a) There is NO legal description of the property – use, titles, certs etc. etc.
      b) There is NO claim of legal ownership by Gregorio of the so called 150 hectares – could be any property or properties in Rosario Batangas
      c) There is NO ”listed shares in the PSE” – seems to be a deliberate mistake of not stating Sunchamp
      d) There is NO schedule of payments
      e) There is NO list or description of improvements and no date or entity stated that these mystery improvements must be registered
      f) Clause 4 really is the implied function of this agreement viz, to make it as an unenforceable agreement in perpetuity – does that make Tiu a perp?

      The above is a “standard “ type (to quote Mr. Tiu) dummy agreement

    • Please pursue the story about the tax liability about the story as told by Tiu.
      It appears from Atty. Kim it would be like this: TIU from Gregorio from Land Owner.
      If you reverse, what would be the consequence.

      Also, try to examine the ‘Agreement’ submitted by TIU & SUBIDO.
      The signature strokes seem to be similar.
      TIU & GREGORIO are one and the same person?

  8. Why are the 2 low-breed lapdogs of vp binay, especially jv bautista, had twice gate crashed the senate hearings?

    Obviously, the binay camp wants the senate sub-comm ittee to remove/erase from the records the very damaging and first-hand testimonies of jojo’s former vice-mayor and partner-in-crime, ernesto mercado, by maligning the state witness as a liar and his testimonies won’t hold water in court.

    They do not care much about the “Hacienda of Lies” in Rosario, Batangas, since another askal is already taking care of it aptly named tiu-pi

  9. It would be great if Raissa could provide the interview in English.There are many foreigners like me who would be keen to follow Raissa’s interview with VP Binay.

    • Can someone translate please?

      I also have somewhat a raw transcription of the entire interview but it needs to be counter-checked against the voice tape. Can someone volunteer please?

      then I will send the raw transcription of the entire tape.

      • Very clear that you were asking about personal properties. There was even no mention of Agrifortuna from VP Binay.

  10. Binay has been on “campaign mode” for at least two years now.

    Almost weekly, mayors and other local reps would come to Makati in order to be wined and dined by Binay’s associates.

    More than a few of them were invited to enjoy Rosario.

  12. Isa lang pag-uulit sa panahong bakasyon…

    Ang Tagong Yaman at Ang Utot

    Ayaw ipagmalaki
    Pilit itinatanggi

    Sadyang itinatago
    ‘Kinukubli ang baho

    Ang May Tagong Yaman at Ang Umutot

    Malakas man, mahina
    ‘Di maipagkaila

    Problema pag nabisto
    Pandidirihang piho

    (Sipi mula sa aklat na pinamagatang “Talas Ipamalas” ni Mang Bernie, ika-13 pahina)

  13. I am wondering why the decision of Binay to attend the Senate Hearing lies on the party decision. Kasali din ba sila sa mga inuungkat na katiwalian umano ng Bise Presidente? Mayroon ba silang investment doon?

  14. Hi Raissa,

    Pleasw make several copies of the tape and hide them on a safe place just in case someone will try to steal it from you.

    Thanks and be safe always.

    God bless you and Allan.

  15. Thank you Raissa. I am a father of 3 and you are the reason why I hope one on them will be a journalist.

      • Raissa’s breed of journalists is now on the wane…. it seems that money is a greater consideration than principle.

        One who works like a justice of the SC. As Raissa mentioned at the Senate’s “The Cage”….
        “I do not socialize with my subjects, Senators:.

    • INDEED, (From the Mouth of Brave-One RAISSA ROBLES Herself), to be and become a Professional and Investigative Report to Cover Sensitive Political News, takes 200% GUTS, PROFESSIONAL DEDICATION FOR & TO THE READING PUBLIC, AND MOST ” RAISSA ROBLES ” . . ! ! (From a Group of Pilipino Expat Admirers here in Westcoast California,..Madam RAISSA ROBLES,…May We Endorse, if not Campaign for ‘RAISSA ROBLES for SENATOR in 2016’, . . . NO MATTER VIA ‘CYBER-BLOGS, CYBER MEDIA, AND ‘C H A T S’ ?? B T W, It’s A SINCERE QUERY AND SUGGESTION FROM OUR CALIFORNIANS FOR HONEST AND BETTER PH GOVERNANCE ‘GROUP & MEMBERS’. TYVM FOR ANY RESPONSE….> > …Consideration TO RESPOND !!

      • Dear Francisco,

        You are all dreaming :)

        How about you help me na lang get the FOI law passed?

        And also, you can help by telling your friends and families about my blog and by asking them to be engaged, too, in the discussions here.

        Let us take the harder road. Continuously remind our public officials to do their jobs and to reduced their temptations to make money while in government.

        • More & more OFW following your site now. Me and my colleague are sure read it everyday !! I don’t know kung hangang saan tayo lahat makakarating , means paano nating matuturuan ang mga mahhirap na matutong bumoto, kung hindi naman lahat ay nakakabasa ng mga ganitong site? Maraming bulag at bingi sa mga pinoy at parang paghanga lang sa artista ang ginagwa nila. Kahit pa ano buhay ng isang artista ay paga hanga pa rin sila. Ganoon din ang ginagawa nilang paghanga sa mga politiko. Read the history of Marcose’s and Estrada’s !!