Mercado: Binay owns P15M Tagaytay log cabin

MANILA, Philippines – Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado faced the Senate again on Wednesday and insisted that Vice President Jejomar Binay owns a P15.6-million property in an exclusive residential community in Tagaytay.

During the Senate Blue Ribbon Sub-committee hearing on the Makati City Hall II parking building, Mercado said the alleged Binay property is a three-bedroom log cabin located at The Woodlands in Tagaytay Highlands.

Mercado said Binay acquired the property when he was still Makati mayor but he has not included it in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

Mercado, a former ally of Binay, presented documents such as billing statements and receipts from the Tagaytay Highlands International Golf Club.

He said these papers had the signatures of Binay's wife, Elenita, and their daughter, Sen. Nancy Binay.

"Sunod-sunod ang billing na iyan at sunod-sunod ang mga resibo," Mercado said during the televised hearing.

"Hindi ko po alam kung paanong pasisinungalingan iyan ng ating Bise Presidente. Sa mga exclusive na lugar na ganyan, para magkaroon ng pribilehiyo ng magamit ang clubhouse, kailangan meron kang unit," he added.

In a statement, Binay's camp dismissed Mercado's allegations as "malicious" and "baseless."

"A billing statement is not proof of ownership as claimed by Mr. Mercado especially when the authenticity of the signatures can be disputed," said Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla, Binay's spokesman.

Remulla said until now, Mercado cannot provide documents proving Binay's actual ownership of the property.

He also claimed that the company mentioned has already denied having any record of ownership.

Mercado earlier alleged that Binay also owns a 350-hectare agricultural estate in Rosario, Batangas.