Former Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son, former Makati mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr., have been acquitted of graft, falsification of public documents, and malversation charges over the controversial Makati City Hall Parking Building project, a case that has hounded their political careers for nearly a decade.
The Sandiganbayan’s decision, handed down on Friday, August 22, absolved the Binays and 22 co-accused, ruling that prosecutors failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The case revolved around the P2.2-billion multi-phase construction of the city’s parking facility, which began during the elder Binay’s tenure as mayor and was continued under his son between 2010 and 2013.
In previous hearings, Junjun Binay defended his role by clarifying that he only authorized the release of payments in 2011 and 2013. He pointed out that “the bidding and post-bidding activities were performed by persons other than him.”
The Office of the Ombudsman had indicted the Binays back in 2016, alleging irregularities such as manipulated bidding processes, questionable advertisements in the tabloid Balita, and the absence of approved budgets and detailed work specifications. Contracts were awarded to Mana Architecture and Hilmarc’s Construction, fueling accusations of fraud and overpricing.
Despite these allegations, the Sandiganbayan concluded that the evidence presented did not prove wrongdoing. The ruling effectively ends one of the most high-profile corruption cases linked to the former vice president, who previously faced political backlash over the project.
After the verdict, the Binays declined to speak with the media, leaving the courtroom in silence.
