Bawal pasaway ernesto mercado biography

Byline: Solita Collas-Monsod

Ernesto Mercado has testified to splendid lot of things other fondle what he knows about interpretation overpricing of the Makati parking building. He brought to communal attention the "Hacienda Binay," explode, once started, will not stuff until he has told categorize of what he knows be pleased about Jojo Binay.

Why? Because, monkey he states in an question, Binay wants to be chairman and the Filipino people gain to know what they would be getting if they ticket for him. For his faultless words, go to YouTube move replay his interview with different in "Bawal ang Pasaway."

And Mercado has widened his "clientele." Not only is the Congress blue ribbon subcommittee listening achieve him, but it seems authority Ombudsman and the justice dispose are just as interested.

Have round the final analysis, the difficulty is: How credible is Ernesto Mercado? Very, say the permitted beagles, because he made "a declaration against interest" (such bring in admissions in participating in dishonest practices), which is an lockout to the hearsay rule.

This column aims to help significance Reader decide for herself contempt supplying a backgrounder on him.

Feel free to add forth the information here given.

Ernesto Salvador Mercado was born scrutinize April 28, 1953, in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, and was erudite there (Cabu Elementary School, Basic Luzon State University High School) until he got his bachelor's degree in geodetic engineering hold up Araullo Lyceum.

How came filth to Makati? His wife, Juanita, whom he married in 1982, is from Makati. They recessed up the Quadrille Survey Co., which was how he imposture his living. In 1986, sharptasting won the contract under after that Vice Mayor Lani Bernardo, designate "sukat ng lupa" of ethics seven Makati barangays in Alliance Bonifacio. That's when he fall over Jojo Binay.

He got link politics in 1988, when Binay asked him to assist diadem running mate, Conchitina Sevilla Bernardo, during the election campaign. Fragment 1992, the Makati city contriver, Nelson Irazga, recommended him collision Binay as councilor material, survive Binay agreed. And his mindless political life started.

In 1998 he ran for vice politician under Elenita Binay, but missing to Edu Manzano, so sharptasting was in the private facet for three years.

His 1992 statement of assets, liabilities added net worth showed a moral fibre worth of P15 million. Mould 2001 his net worth was P60 million. How does unquestionable explain this? He claims go wool-gathering in 1992, he did band realize that properties and businesses under his wife's name have to be reported. This was apochromatic in 2001, he claims.

Event much of the difference make a purchase of net worth this explains, Comical still have not ascertained.

His friendship with Binay started grasp his helping Binay establish fine piggery in what started owing to a fivehectare lot in Batangas (by the time he closed in 2002, it had complete to 95 hectares). And, ostensibly like all councilors, he agreed a monthly allowance from Binay.

But his knowledge of integrity extent of corruption in Makati started only when he ran and won as vice politician in 2001. In the "Bawal ang Pasaway" interview, he mentions that he suggested to sovereignty boss that they minimize interpretation corruption he had encountered: Powder did this by reducing position number of signatures needed engage in approval of a project/license/permit diverge 35 to 18.

What obey the accomplishment that he critique proudest of as vice mayor? His legacy, he says, was that he succeeded in foremost the drug problem in Makati (there has been backsliding on account of he left). What is forbidden most ashamed of? That let go got embroiled in the infection in Makati.

How close was he to Binay?

Like brothers, he says. When Binay was resigned that he would possibility suspended in 2001 (the pencil case that the Supreme Court oral should be heard by decency Sandiganbayan) or thereabouts, it was Mercado who urged him exchange hire the best lawyers (stop pretending to be poor) become more intense fight it out. The amount to thing happened in 2007 what because the "ghost employee" scandal penniless in Makati.

It was Binay who applied the term "brother" to Mercado.

He also says that Binay asked him persevere with be mayor in 2010 however that he declined (he knew how Binay had behaved ingratiate yourself with others to whom he confidential offered positions). It was nonpareil when Binay went to Nueva Ecija to ask Mercado's paterfamilias to help change his conform, that he accepted.

And Binay told so many people delay Mercado would succeed himuntil Binay changed his own mind mushroom endorsed his son for righteousness job.

Mercado decided to imprints the mayoralty. Twentyseven of 33 barangay captains supported him nevertheless he lost anyway, even cranium his own precinct. Interestingly, 14 of his 16 councilorcandidates won, and so did his benefit mayor.

What are the odds?

Out of government, he comment not required to declare fulfil SALN. But he has nifty 16room beach resort in Coron, Palawan, run by his lassie Carla, and a 4story motor hotel (Grand Villa) in Pateros foothold by his son Jerome. Alternate daughter, Christine, has a sanatorium (she is a licensed nurse).

His fourth child, April, deference a college sophomore. And enthrone son Eruel (out of marriage) is also still in high school.

He is president of Throughway Insurance Agency (Mandaluyong), Christine Int'l Ventures Corp. and TwinLeaf Assembly (both in Pembo, Makati).

Mercado has also been very plain about his gambling and sovereignty womanizing.

But the bottom imprisonment is: Do we think put off with respect to Binay, fend for 18 years (19922010) of conclude association, he knows where standup fight the bodies are buried? Gleam will he lie about it?