MANILA, Philippines – Former Makati vice mayor Ernesto Mercado on Tuesday, November 18, donated a “Hacienda Binay” lot under his name to the Department of Agrarian Reform, as the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee continues its probe into corruption allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

The lot, a 4.2-hectare parcel of land, is part of the so-called “Hacienda Binay,” a 350-hectare estate in Rosario, Batangas that is allegedly owned by Binay.

Part of the land, however, has been claimed by businessman Antonio Tiu as part of the Sunchamp Agri-Tourism Farm. 

At the continuation of the Senate hearing on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2, Mercado announced he was donating the land to the government to prove that he is not the beneficial user, and to “rectify” the wrong that had been done by returning the land to deserving farmers. 

Mercado presented a notarized document to Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, who had just finished a report on the estate, which may have violated agrarian reform laws.

The DAR chief said he would have to check with DAR lawyers the legality of Mercado’s donation.

The former Binay ally made the donation following Senator Aquilino Pimentel III’s remark that the land should be returned to the government since Mercado was not its beneficial user.

Mercado had said in a previous hearing that he was surprised to find out that a parcel of land was under his name.

He recalled that many years later, Binay had asked him to sign a deed of sale for a parcel of land and that at the time, he did not understand what the document was for.  (READ: Mercado: ‘Hacienda Binay’ lot under my name) – Rappler.com