Binay family welcomes junking of graft case vs VP's wife

The family of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Tuesday expressed relief following the dismissal of the graft case filed against former Makati City mayor Elenita Binay, the vice president’s wife. “The Binay family, particularly the children, feels relieved because they have seen their mother suffer during the pendency of the case," said Joey Salgado, Vice President Binay’s spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday. On Monday, the Sandiganbayan dismissed the graft case filed against Mrs. Binay and her co-accused in connection with the alleged overpricing in the purchase of office partitions and furniture for the new City Hall in 2000 and 2001 amounting to P58.04 million. Mrs. Binay's co-accused were former city administrator Nicanor V. Santiago Jr, general services department head Ernesto A. Aspillaga, and private defendants Li Yee Shing, Jason Li and Vivian M. Edurise, corporate officers of Office Gallery International Inc. The Sandiganbayan Second Division cited weak evidence as reason for the dismissal of the case. It said even the prosecution has admitted that the information it filed in the case did not conform with the evidence. Salgado said the family has yet to receive a copy of the Sandiganbayan decision, but agreed that the evidence against Mrs. Binay was weak. “We should all respect the decision of the court. Nakita nila kung paano naghirap ang kanilang ina, at nagagalak sila na may hustisya pa rin sa ating bansa (Mrs. Binay’s children have seen how their mother suffered and they are happy that there is still justice in the country)," he said. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News