NBI ordered to track Binay's 'bagman'

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Friday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to locate a former staff member of Vice President Jejomar Binay who allegedly received the former Makati mayor's kickbacks.

Gerry Limlingan's name floated after he was tagged by former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee.

The Senate committee has been conducting an investigation on the supposed overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall II parking building while Binay was still mayor.

In a state news report, De Lima said she asked NBI Director Virgilio Mendez to create a "tracker team" to find the "bagman" and as well as Mitzi Sedillo and a certain Bernadette Portallano tagged in the Senate investigation.

De Lima said the directive to the NBI was prompted by a request of the Senate committee, which earlier issued a subpoena summoning Limlingan to appear in the hearings.

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She said she has been discussing with the NBI on the possibility of conducting its own investigation on corruption allegations against Binay.

The Cabinet official, however, admitted that the Department of Justice and the NBI are taking precautions on the issue as the vice president and his family are dismissing the Senate probe are mere "politicking."

Binay's camp also maintains that the issues are a demolition job to dissuade the public from supporting the vice president's 2016 bid for the top post. - Camille Diola