Two former Makati residents claim receiving P1,500 to vote for Binay

(Updated 2:43 p.m.) Two former Makati City residents who were relocated to Laguna said Thursday that they were given P1,500 each to vote for Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2010 elections.
 

Edison Rivera and Domeng Arcillas told the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee during the  hearing on the corruption allegations against Binay that they received P1,500 in exchange for their vote.

They were among hundreds of illegal settlers who were transferred to Makati Homeville Project in Calauan, Laguna in 2009.

Arcillas said in 2010, they were already residing in Laguna but were still registered voters  of   Makati. He said they were given P500 for their transportation expenses.

“Pinangangakuan kami na pag halata nilang bawal ang sasakyan sa presinto bibigyan kami ng pamasahe na P500 para makaboto kami sa Makati,” he said.

“Bibigyan kami ng pera bago umalis sa Calauan, pagdating sa barangay pagkatapos bumoto ay may P500 pa. E sayang din ang P1,500 na natatanggap ng bumoboto sa Makati,” Rivera said.

Asked by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV if this happens every election, the two replied in the affirmative.

“Tuwing eleksyon po ganoon,” they said.
 

“Komo po mahal namin si Binay dahil binabayaran ang boto namin, natural po nalulungkot kami ngayon dahil mawawalan na kami ng tatanggaping bayad sa kanya ngayon dahil doon na kami
boboto sa Calauan,” Rivera said.

He added that he would no longer vote for Binay, who is aspiring the presidency, because of the situation in the relocation site.

“Kahit na tanggalin pa iyong senior citizen (benefits) ko ay ayaw ko na sa kanya,” he said.

Rivera and Arcillas  told the Senate subcommittee the difficulties they encounter at the relocation site after they were transferred there in 2009.

“Iyong pangako sa amin ni BInay e parang walang katotohanan, kabaligtaran. Una, ipinangako niya na bibigyan niya kami ng magandang buhay sa Calauan pero para kaming hayop na diniskarga. Binigyan lang kami ng dalawang kilong bigas na masama na ang lasa at dalawang sardinas na kupi. Pagkatapos doon iniwan na kami. Hindi namin alam kung saan kami kukuha ng makakain, ng tubig na iinumin,” said Rivera.

He said before the 2010 elections, they were still receiving water rations but after that the rations stopped.

“Sa bukal kami kumukuha ng tubig,” he said.

He said they were previously residing along a waterway in Tripa de Gallina in Makati.

“Nangako siya na bibigyan kami ng magandang buhay. Doon kami nakatira sa tabing-ilog.  Kailangan na nila iyong lugar na iyon kaya kami ay binigyan ng lupa sa Laguna. Ang sabi e huwag  na kayong lalaban pa at masasaktan lang kayo,” he narrated.

He said up to now they have no water and electricity.

Arcillas, who previously resided in West Rembo, had a similar experience.

“Ang katotohanan nakatanggap kami ng dalawang kilong bigas at grocery. Nag-ambagan pa kami para sa toll gate. Ibinagsak lang kami sa isang maputik na lugar, mga 200 pamilya yata kami,” he said.

“Meron akong mga kasamahan na namatay sa loob ng bahay, sa gutom namatay,” he added.

He said they confronted Binay about their situation when the latter visited in 2010 but the Vice President just told them: “Binigyan na nga kayo ng lupa, gusto niyo pa ng bahay.”

Rivera said they have yet to receive the title of their land.

“Ang mayroon lang po kami yung entry pass,” he said.

Former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado said the titles were with the Makati City government and he does not know why it was not distributed.

“Sa panahon na bago ako mawala (sa city hall) sinikap ko na mabigyan sila ng titles pero inabot na po ako ng pakikipaghiwalay ko kay (then Mayor Jejomar) Binay,” he said referring to his parting of ways with the Vice President.

Binay’s camp, meanwhile, denied the allegations, saying the two former Makati residents do not represent the whole homeowners at Makati Homeville.

“That is totally false and baseless. Their sentiments do not represent the entire situation of the entire homeowners of the relocation site being provided by the City Government of Makati,” said lawyer Rico Quicho, Binay’s spokesperson.

“Important social services are still being provided to them by the city government of Makati up to the present until they could stand on their own,” he added in a text message to GMA News Online. - JJ/KBK, GMA News