Junjun Binay refuses to step down, blames Mar for suspension

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Wednesday challenged the order of the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend him for six months over the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building 2.

Binay said there was “apparent haste” in the issuance of the preventive suspension order, branding it as a “special express suspension.”

“Talagang may special treatment kaming mga Binay. Special Senate hearing, special COA (Commission on Audit) audit, special panel ng Ombudsman, at ngayon, special express na suspension,” Binay said.

Binay said he is not surprised by the Ombudsman’s decision to issue the preventive suspension against him, saying that the special panel of investigators includes prosecutors afilliated with former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo and lawyer Nonong Cruz.

Binay said Marcelo and Cruz are not only the lawyers of Interior and Local Government Secetary Mar Roxas, but are also his alleged “operators.”

“Hindi lang sila mga abugado ni DILG Secretary Mar Roxas. Sila rin ay kilalang mga operator ni Secretary Mar Roxas. Sino ang implementing agency ng aking suspension? Ang DILG na pinamumunuan ni Secretary Roxas,” he said.

Binay said his lawyers have filed a petition for certiorari asking the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order against the Ombudsman’s suspension order.

Binay also vowed to exhaust all legal remedies and appealed for fair and equal treatment from the concerned government agencies. Binay also expressed hope that the courts will remain fair and impartial even if the Ombudsman has not done so.

Binay said the Court of Appeals must first rule on his petition as he argued that the order of the Ombudsman placing him under preventive suspension is not final and immediately implementable. Binay also said he will not leave his City Hall office until the issue is resolved.

“I will exhaust all available remedies. I will continue discharging my duties as mayor until all legal remedies have been respected. While I belong to the opposition, I am still entitled to  my rights like any Filipino citizen,” he said.

For his part, Binay’s lawyer, Claro Certeza said until the Court of Appeals has decided for or against Binay’s petition for a temporary restraining order, Binay remains at his post as Makati City mayor.

“We have filed that petition and among the reliefs we are asking for is the issuance of a temporary restraining order. We believe that until such time that our prayer for a temporary restraining order is decided upon, hindi po nila pwedeng alisin si mayor,” Certeza said.

“Maliwanag po na si mayor is duly elected by hundreds and thousands of Makati residents. Maliwanag po yun. So sana, respetuhin nila ang decision ng Makati electorate at huwag dahil sa sabi-sabi ng kung sino-sino ay tatanggalin lang si mayor,” Certeza added.

Certeza said they will inform the DILG which has yet to serve Binay’s preventive suspension order that there is a pending petition for a restraining order.

“We believe na kailangang igalang nila (DILG) ito. There is no basis for the suspension. May mga requirements before an elected official is suspended. Naninawala po kami na dito sa kasong ito, ay wala po yun,” Certeza added.

Meanwhile Mayor Binay appealed for sobriety among Makati residents as he warned them against the lies and unjust persecution against his father Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Iisa lang naman ang dahilan ng pagggigipit nila. Para hadlangan ang hangarin ng aking ama na maglilingkod sa inyo bilang president ng ating bansa,” Binay said.