Lawmaker reminds Binay: You once praised Jamias

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay once praised the newly promoted officer-in-charge of the Eastern Police District (EPD), Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez of party-list group Akbayan said yesterday.

The administration ally made the reminder after Binay’s camp questioned the promotion of Jamias, former deputy director for administration of the Southern Police District (SPD).

He said the Vice President’s camp should look at Jamias’ “excellent record before they judge his character as an officer of the law.”

“On the basis of his excellent record, the promotion of Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias as Eastern Police District chief should come as no surprise,” Gutierrez said.

“In fact, even Vice President Binay, back in 1999, had no qualms in heaping praises on then Manila Police District officer Jamias, saying he wished ‘we can clone people like him,’” he added.

Binay made the statement after Jamias was recognized as one of the outstanding Manilans in 1999 under the Criminal Justice System Category.

“The Binays are seeing conspiracies where there are none. It is, thus, utterly unfortunate that public servants who are only doing their job become victims of these dark, twisted games,” Gutierrez said.

He was referring to the claim of a Binay spokesman that Jamias’ promotion was his “reward” for doing the bidding of outgoing Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, whom the ombudsman had tasked to enforce its suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Irwin Binay Jr.

Roxas had tasked the then SPD official to serve the suspension order on the mayor, who had barricaded himself in the city hall building.

“Unfortunately, these increasingly paranoid statements coming from the Binay camp have characterized their recent pronouncements. But I suppose those who are desperate and unwilling to squarely answer mounting charges against them would rather cast aspersions on others to try and shift the people’s attention away from themselves. But the people know better,” Gutierrez said.

Jamias figured in a confrontation with the Vice President on June 29 when he tried to serve the ombudsman’s suspension order on Mayor Binay.

A few days later, the police officer claimed the Vice President berated and assaulted him. He vowed to file charges against the nation’s second highest official. However, no case has been filed.

The EPD has jurisdiction over the cities of Mandaluyong, Pasig, San Juan and Marikina.