‘Ombudsman order meant to stop candidacy’

MANILA, Philippines - The speed in resolving the case was astonishing, and the ombudsman’s dismissal of Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay as Makati mayor isn’t going to stop him from seeking a fresh term, his camp said yesterday.

Junjun Binay’s lawyer also said the dismissal ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman was meant to derail the political plans of the mayor’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Makati Rep. Abigail Binay lamented the timing of the order, served late yesterday before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy on Monday.

“We all know who really is the target – the target is our father, Vice President Binay,” the congresswoman told reporters. “Unfortunately, it’s really like this in politics.”

She said she would not be surprised if an order is also issued against her father “because they want him to be unable to file his candidacy.”

Junjun’s lawyer Claro Certeza said they would consult election lawyers on whether the dismissed mayor could still file his certificate of candidacy despite his dismissal and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Joey Salgado, head of the Office of the Vice President’s media affairs office, said the ombudsman’s order was made in haste as the filing of the COCs starts on Monday.

“What the ombudsman did was a dismissal by press release,” Salgado said in Filipino, noting that the copy of the order was sent to the home of the Vice President rather than Junjun.

“They want to prevent Mayor Junjun from running. But they are wrong because there’s no final judgment yet, so Mayor Binay can still run,” Salgado said.

He said the ombudsman did not suspend Budget Secretary Florencio Abad despite being investigated on the P72-billion Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

“Mayor Junjun Binay, a member of the opposition, was immediately suspended and now he was ordered dismissed from goverment service, this is despite the fact that he was just asked by the COA (Commission on Audit) last week to answer the initial findings on the special audit of City Hall Building 2, despite the injunction order issued by the Court of Appeals stopping the suspension order against Mayor Junjun, and even if the Supreme Court still hears the issue,” Salgado said.

The ombudsman’s order stemmed from the administrative case he is facing over the alleged overpricing of the Makati parking building.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Mayor Binay may still appeal the ruling but his perpetual disqualification from service is “immediately executory.”

Salgado said the suspended mayor would consult his lawyers on their next legal moves following the ombudsman’s order.

“Mayor Junjun is ready to face the charges against him, he would go to the court to stop the abuse and suppression of this administration,” he said.

Certeza said they would follow the procedure in filing a motion for reconsideration or elevate the case before the Court of Appeals or to the Supreme Court.

Certeza said the dismissal order was questionable. He said that although the ombudsman has the power to decide on administrative cases, there is no basis for Binay’s dismissal from government service.

Last March, the ombudsman suspended Binay over the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

The Court of Appeals, however, issued a temporary restraining order against its implementation.

The ombudsman suspended Binay anew in June, this time in connection with the alleged anomalous construction of the Makati Science High School.

The ombudsman then ordered the dismissal and perpetual disqualification from service of Binay yesterday in connection with the administrative case he is facing over the alleged overpricing in the city’s parking building construction.

Salgado slammed what he called “selective justice” under the Aquino administration.

He said the ombudsman’s order “is part of the conspiracy of the government agencies, including the Senate and Anti-Money Laundering Council, to destroy and suppress Vice President Binay and his family because of their intention to serve the poor.”– Helen Flores, Paolo Romero