Binay lawyer says they expect case will eventually be dismissed

(UPDATED) The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division has found probable cause to try former Vice President Jejomar Binay and dismissed Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay for multiple counts of graft, malversation, and falsification of public documents.

The Binays are facing the charges, along with other former city officials, for the three phases of construction of the Makati City Hall Parking Building.

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The other individuals named as respondents in the case were former city officials: Marjorie De Veyra, Pio Kenneth Dasal, Line Dela Pena, Arnel Cadangan, Norman Flores, Emerito Magat, Efren Canlas, Raydes Pestano, Lorenza Amores, Nelia Barlis, Cecilio Lim III, Giovanni Condes, Rodel Nayve, Manolito Uyaco, Ulysses Orienza, Mario Badillo and Leonila Querijero.

The court, however, is not ordering the issuance of arrest warrants against all of the accused.

"In view of the voluntary surrender and the posting of bail bond for the temporary liberty of all the accused, the Court need not issue warrants for their arrest," the court said in its 53-page resolution.

The court set the arraignment for the accused on September 29, at 8:30 a.m.

Earlier this year, the Sandiganbayan also found probable cause against the younger Binay who was involved in Phases IV and V of the construction of the building.

The cases, which do not involve Binay Sr., were filed in February 2016 when Binay Sr. was still immune from suits as a sitting vice president.

But after Binay stepped down as vice president, the cases against the father and son were filed on July 2016. All the cases have been consolidated at the 3rd Division as they all involve the design and construction of the same building, although at different stages.

According to the Binay's legal counsel, Atty. Daniel Subido, the court resolution simply means the case will go to trial, but they are expecting the case to be dismissed due to weak evidence.

"The resolution of the court simply means that the case will go to trial where the prosecution must present their evidence. We anticipate that prosecution's so-called evidence would be weak and insufficient. Thus the case will eventually be dismissed," he said in a statement.