Junjun Binay's camp cries 'harassment' by DILG, cops

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay on Wednesday accused the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) of harassment after agency officials accompanied by Makati City Police officers allegedly surrounded his house in Barangay San Antonio to personally serve the order of the Office of the Ombudsman on his dismissal from government service.

Joey Salgado, spokesman for the dismissed mayor said the DILG officers and the police officers were out to intimidate Binay as the dismissal order was already received by his camp shortly after its issuance last week.

Salgado said the DILG and police vehicles arrived at the dismissed mayor's house at about 8:30 a.m.

"Kaninang umaga, mga bandang 8:30 a.m., dumating sa bahay ni Mayor Junjun Binay ang isang convoy ng mga sasakyan ng DILG at mga mobile cars ng Makati Police. Nabulabog ang komunidad. 'Yon pala, nandon sila para i-serve ang order ng Ombudsman na na-isyu last week pa at natanggap na ni Mayor Junjun," said Salgado in a statement.

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"Over-acting naman ang DILG. Malinaw na harassment ang ginawa nila. Mabuti na lang at pumasok na sa eskwela ang mga anak ni Mayor Junjun kung hindi ay baka natraumatize sila na makitang pinaikutan ng mga mobile cars ang bahay nila," Salgado added.

Salgado said the DILG and the Makati Police have intended to intimidate both dismissed mayor Binay and his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, into not pursuing their political plans.

"Halatang-halata na gusto nilang sindakin si Mayor Binay at iparating ang mensahe na ang administrasyon ang kalaban ng pamilya Binay. Nagkakamali sila kung akala nila ay mahahadlangan nila ang determinasyong maglingkod ni VP Binay at ng kanyang pamilya," said Salgado.

The camp of dismissed Mayor Jejomar Binay earlier argued that the order by the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss him from government service is not yet final. Binay, said his camp, would still be filing his certificate of candidacy to seek reelection as mayor of Makati City. If elected in next year's polls, Binay will be serving his last term as Makati City mayor.

Should the Ombudsman's order be deemed final, however, Binay's sister, Makati 2nd District Rep. Mar-Len Abigail said she is willing to take her brother's place.

"Ang sabi ni Cong (Congresswoman) Abby, if final ang decision to disqualify. Mayor Jun will definitely run for reelection," Salgado earlier said.

After a seven-month investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday ordered the dismissal from government service of suspended Mayor Binay for his role in the allegedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

Also ordered removed were 19 other former and current officials of the city for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales also slapped Binay and his co-respondents with administrative charges, which bar them perpetually from holding public office.

The order of dismissal against Binay Jr. was prompted by findings of anomalies in the bidding, construction and funding for the Makati carpark building project worth P2.28 billion undertaken from 2007 to 2013.

Dismissed from the service aside from the younger Binay were Marjorie de Veyra, Pio Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Virginia Hernandez, Line dela Peña, Mario Badillo, Leonila Querijero, Raydes Pestaño, Nelia Barlis, Cecilio Lim III, Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat, Connie Consulta, Ulysses Orienza, Giovanni Condes, Manolito Uyaco, Gerardo San Gabriel, Eleno Mendoza Jr. and Rodel Nayve.

Rep. Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, is on her third and last term as the representative of Makati's second district. She said she would let her husband Luis Campos replace her as congressional candidate in 2016. Campos is seeking public office for the first time.

Rep. Binay said her brother would exhaust all legal measures so that he could run for reelection in Makati City.

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Lawyers from the Binay camp said they would either file a motion for reconsideration of the Ombudsman's order or elevate the case before the Court of Appeals or to the Supreme Court.

Salgado earlier also lashed at the Ombudsman for its apparent haste in resolving the case against Mayor Binay and ordering his dismissal from government service.