“While vice mayor, [Mercado] was known to frequent casinos here and abroad, where he is considered a high-roller and given five-star treatment by casino operators. He is known to lose millions in cockfights. We wondered how he was able to afford such a high-living lifestyle, but his admission of personally gaining from the Building 2 project gives us the answer,” said De Veyra, who remains an ally of the Binays.