Junjun Binay exerts authority as mayor, appeals to Mar

MANILA, Philippines — Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay on Wednesday assured Makati's constituents that he remains in office and will continue to discharge his functions as mayor.

As an assertion of authority, Binay signed official documents pertaining to transactions of the city government and even presided over a meeting of the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), which he chairs.

Binay presided over an emergency meeting of the MDRRMC on Wednesday morning at the Makati CIty Hall in preparation for the arrival of tropical storm "Betty" moving toward Casiguran, Aurora within 24 hours.

Attending the meeting were the heads of the city government's offices and national government agencies. Binay stressed that the city department heads who attended the emergency meeting recognize him and support his administration.

"We are all here present, members of the heads of various departments, kami trabaho na lang. We have a possible situation here. People expect us to work. I was mandated by the people of Makati. Let us respect the rule of law. Trabaho. We would like to work," he said.

"We will follow the protocol established, kung ayaw kaming pakinggan at ayaw sundin ang batas. Kung ipipilit ni [Interior] Secretary [Manuel "Mar" Roxas II] ang kagustuhan nya, kami rito ay magtratrabaho," Binay added.

The MDRRMC is composed of the Urban Development Department, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Office of the City Administrator, DILG-Makati, Makati Social Welfare Department, Makati Health Department, DRRM Office, Department of Environmental Services, Veterinary Services Office, Ospital ng Makati, General Services Department, Information and Community Relations Department, Human Resource Development Office, Budget Department, Finance Department, Accounting Department, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Education-Makati, Bureau of Fire Protection-Makati, Philippine National Police-Makati, and the Philippine Red Cross.

Throw out dirty politics, Mar told

Binay also Roxas and the Liberal Party to keep "dirty politics" outside of  Makati.

"My humble appeal to Secretary Roxas and members of the Liberal Party is to stop this type of dirty politics," Binay said.

"Taong-bayan na po ang pinapahirapan. Mga tao na po ang tinatakot ng Liberal Party. If the Liberal party would like to continue their dirty politics, hindi naman natin sila pwedeng pigilan," he added.

Binay also lashed at the DILG for saying that Vice Mayor Romulo "Kid" Peña can sign documents as acting city mayor.

"We will sign documents here. Ang pakiusap lang namin sa tinatakot ng Liberal Party ay sundin natin ang kautusan ng court," Binay said.

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He added that Roxas' office has no basis in allowing Peña to take over, causing "confusion" in the city.

"Sila lang ang gumagawa ng confusion dito. My humble appeal to Secretary Roxas and members of the Liberal Party is to stop these kinds of dirty politics. At the end of the day, ang taong bayan ang pinahihirapan po nila," he said.

"Ang sinabi niya (Roxas) ay follow the rule of law. Eto, the court has decided. I have a clear mandate  for the people of Makati and that should be followed," Binay added.