DOJ urged to probe BSP officials, Binay

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MANILA – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday was urged by an anti-crime group to investigate several officials of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) including Vice President Jejomar Binay and former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado.

The investigation will focus on the questionable venture agreement between a private firm and the BSP for the transfer, development and construction of a property that is leased in Manila.

“We requested the DOJ and the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate further into the matter and this information to the Ombudsman for filing of complaint,” Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Chairman Dante Jimenez said after meeting with De Lima.

Jimenez added that it is the justice department’s role to conduct an investigation on BSP and its corporate assets management committee.

Empire East State Holdings Inc. and Mercado is currently heading BSPO’s asset management.

“What’s happening to the BSP? Has the BSP turned itself as a profit-making organization? A moral issue is raised if indeed the BSP was trying to acquire the land at UPLB Makiling, why should BSP be interested in so doing when in fact it already has its own property transferred to Suntrust. Who, by the way are the owners of Suntrust and why this transaction that has nothing to do with Boy Scouting was allowed to happen and why Mercado is silent on the issue,” Jimenez said.