KM Viray
Two days later, Binay asked for an additional P1,000 to be able to purchase more materials for the dress. Lee paid him readily and went on to plan the other details of their wedding in September.
Another three days later, Binay contacted her to ask for the full payment. He promised Lee she would be receiving their clothes by August 20 or earlier. Trusting Binay, Lee met with him to pay the remaining balance.
When August 20 came, Lee tried contacting Binay but was told his mobile phone wasn’t charged. On the same evening, Lee saw him posting on his Facebook account about a fashion show. Lee liked the post to get his attention and sure enough, Binay’s account sent her a private message. However, the person using the account was apparently Binay’s personal assistant named Gerry. Gerry told Lee Binay’s father was in the hospital, but also said she would be given updates.
Sure enough, Lee was told the next day that the gown and suit would be ready by August 31 instead. Since then, Binay would keep giving excuses whenever Lee would follow up on their clothes. August 31 came and went and they still did not have the gown and the suit. They even went to his place in Kamuning on September 7 and waited until 9 pm, but were unsuccessful. Lee and her then-fiance had even told Binay that if he could not deliver as promised, he could just give them their money back.
After days of being ignored, the couple received a message on September 8 from Binay saying the gown and suit will be delivered on September 10. But once again, September 10 came with no dress and no suit in sight.
After Binay told them he will deliver the clothes on September 11 instead, Lee really felt they were just being strung along. It was only four days before their wedding and they still had nothing to wear.
Through the help of a friend, they discovered that Binay was hiding out in Las Piñas City. The couple immediately went there to claim their clothes, but to their dismay, there was nothing to claim. Lee was furious as she described the state of her gown: “Ang gown ko binaboy nya, tinahi nya ng kamay at tinipid yung lace fabric na binigay ko para magamit nya, ipinagamit pa ito sa iba, may lipsticks stains at puro libag ang loob, halatang naisuot na in short HINDI KO MASUSUOT sa kasal namin. [He butchered my gown. He only sewed it by hand and he even barely used the lace fabric I provided for him. He even let another someone use it. The gown had lipstick stains and was very dirty. It was obvious the gown had been worn, therefore I could not wear it myself to the wedding.]”
She was even berated by Binay for getting mad and raising her voice because she was in his home.
Since there was nothing else they could do, Lee and her companions went to the barangay hall to file a complaint. When they returned to his house, they learned Binay had left because of an “emergency.”
Fortunately, Lee and her now-husband were able to find outfits for their big day. However, this did not stop Lee from posting on social media to help warn other citizens, especially other brides, who are currently transacting with Binay. She prayed that no one else would have to go through what she did.
