Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Thursday (October 1) that he received a text message from an unidentified source last Monday about a plan to send him to jail and disqualify his son, suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr., from his post.
Binay made the revelation in an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines.
“Handa ko naman harapin pagdating nun,” Binay said. “Eh yung ombudsman ay kasama naman nila iyon.”
[Translation; “I’m ready to face that when it happens. The Ombudsman is with them.”]
Binay has three plunder complaints before the Ombudsman for supposed anomalies when he was mayor of Makati.
If the text message turned out to be correct, Binay said he expected that a case would be filed against him before the Sandiganbayan and a warrant of arrest issued after he files his certificate of candidacy this month.
He said, if not October, perhaps an arrest warrant would be issued by January or March.
If a warrant of arrest were to be issued, Binay said he would surrender.
But he was quick to add that he would question any case filed against him before the Supreme Court because he believed that as vice president, he should be immune from suit like other members of constitutional bodies like the Commission on Elections or the Commission on Audit.
Binay reiterated that the plan to charge and arrest him was part of the “demolition by perception” plan against him to destroy his presidential bid for 2016.
