Congresswoman Binay wins condo in Rockwell raffle

MANILA, Philippines (2nd Update) – Just got lucky? 

Power Plant Mall on Sunday, February 2, announced in its Facebook page that Makati Representative Mar-len Abigail Binay-Campos – daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay and sister of Senator Nancy Binay and Makati Mayor Junjun Binay – won a studio condominium unit at The Grove, a residential complex in Pasig City developed by Rockwell Land Corporation.

The result of the raffle soon earned the ire of netizens, with some raising doubts about the validity of the draw and others questioning the politician’s delicadeza in joining the contest. 

Binay confirmed to Interaksyon the authenticity of the post. In a statement sent to the media, Rockwell also confirmed that Binay indeed won the Christmas raffle. 

The property developer said the draw was conducted on Saturday, February 1, “before a duly authorized representative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and witnessed by a live audience.”

The statement said:“The Power Plant Mall Christmas Raffle was crafted and implemented in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Trade and Industry/.” 

It added: “The full mechanics of the Power Plant Mall Christmas Raffle have been available to the public through official Power Plant Mall social media channels as well as advertisements placed in newspapers with national circulation.”

According to a Dec 6, 2013, post at lopezlink.ph – the official newsletter of the Lopez Group of Companies, a P2,500 receipt from Rockwell makes customers eligible for one raffle stub.

The Grove and Power Plant Mall, which is located in Makati, are both projects of the Lopez Group of Companies-led Rockwell. 

‘Pure chance’

Asked whether she would accept the condo unit or not, the lawmaker said she saw nothing wrong in doing so. 

“What’s wrong if I accept the condo? I didn’t cheat. It was by pure chance,” Binay told reporters Monday night, February 3.

According to a Solar News report, the Makati representative also denied allegations that the raffle draw was rigged, saying that it was by “sheer luck that she won. 

“It wasn’t based on my financial status or my status as a politician or my stature. It is by sheer luck that I won that raffle,” she said. “If we were to rig anything, why not the Lotto instead, which is bigger?”

Binay told reporters she considers the condo unit as a gift from God, an Inquirer report said.

“Sa laki ng paghihirap namin ng Kongreso last year, siguro sabi ng Diyos, sige, this year, bibigyan ka namin ng pampagana, (With all the stress we endured in Congress last year, perhaps God said, all right, this year, I’ll give you some form of motivation)” she said.

The Facebook post has gone viral. A comment from Facebook user Mel Banico on the Power Plant Mall page received the “most likes.” It read: “Am I reading this right? Cong Abby Binay won your grand raffle? As if they still need additional assets to their burgeoning wealth.” 

The congresswoman, married to a Campos, has a net worth of P41.2 million, according to her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for 2012. 

A Newsbreak investigative report in 2001 found Vice President Binay and his wife, Elenita, owning at least 2 units at the posh Hidalgo condominium inside the Rockwell Center in Makati, among at least P80 million worth of real estate properties in Makati and Batangas that were reportedly in the name of dummies. – Angela Casauay/Rappler.com