Published - I’m next target — Binay

By JC BELLO RUIZ, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — “I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.”

This was the reaction of Vice President Jejomar C. Binay when asked Wednesday about reports that his old graft case is being resurrected at the Office of the Ombudsman.

In an earlier television interview, Binay said he was told that he is the next target of an ouster move.

Binay, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new city hospital of Makati in Barangay Bel-Air, said information had reached him that some parties are trying to resurrect his old graft case in a bid to oust him.

He declined to identify the parties working for his ouster.

Binay added that he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, referring to the one filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by his old political rival, former Makati Vice Mayor Roberto Brillante, in 2003, in connection with an alleged overpriced procurement of furniture for the new city hall from 1999 to 2001.

The Third Division of the Sandiganbayan dismissed the graft charges against Binay and the other respondents in 2006 for lack of probable cause.

In an earlier interview with ABS-CBN’s “Patrol ng Pilipino,” Binay aired his suspicion that he might be reinvestigated as soon as the successor of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is appointed.