Sandiganbayan acquits Binays, 16 others of graft charges

The Sandiganbayan Special Fifth Division acquitted former Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son former Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay Jr., and 16 others of graft and falsification charges.

The acquittal pertains to alleged irregularities in the P17.45-million design contract and the P1.336-billion construction contracts for the Makati Science High School building.

The court cited insufficiency of evidence as the basis for dismissing seven counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and three charges of falsification of public documents.

The resolution was promulgated on December 13, 2024, and released on January 9, 2025.

Those acquitted include members of the Makati Bids and Awards Committee, BAC Secretariat, Technical Working Group, city accountants, a city cashier, and private defendants from the contracting companies, Infiniti Architectural Works and Hilmarc's Construction Corporation.

The Sandiganbayan also ordered the return of their bail bonds and lifted the hold departure orders against them.