Binay wife okayed rigged bidding -- COA

From: abs-cbnnews.com

Commission on Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza testified at the Sandiganbayan that the bidding for P72 million worth of  office furniture for the Makati City Hall in 2000 and 2001 had been rigged.

Appearing at the trail of graft charges against former Makati City Mayor Dr. Elenita Binay, wife of Vice-President Jejomar Binay, Mendoza testified that Mrs. Binay had failed to present a floor plan during the bidding.

Mendoza also said three companies - Asia Concept, MFE International and Office Gallery - offered the same prices and items even without the floor plan.

Asia Concept was awarded the contract the next day but it later turned out that the three companies were owned by the same person.

The prosecution had earlier pointed out Mrs. Binay's signature was on the purchase order, voucher and minutes of the bidding.

Binay’s lawyer, Sandra Coronel, said they are confident that Mendoza’s allegations will be junked anew by the Sandiganbayan.

Coronel noted the Sandiganbayan second division’s decision in April 2011 that the special audit that Mendoza did was insufficient to pin down Binay. It  also noted that the prosecution presented “shoddy” evidence.

She said the prosecution’s witnesses also testified, in effect, for Binay. “They established that the [three companies] are owned by different individuals. ###