Lawyer: Only courts, not DILG, can force Binay out

Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The camp of Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. on Tuesday reiterated that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) should abide by the temporary restraining order (TRO) handed by the Court of Appeals on Monday.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. Photo by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net

Claro Certeza, Binay’s counsel, said that only the courts could force Binay out and not the DILG.

“Mayor Binay is the Mayor of Makati. Only the judiciary can say otherwise, not the DILG,” Certeza said in a press conference.

The Binay camp has filed contempt charges in the appellate court on Tuesday afternoon against Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, DILG NCR Director Renato Brion, NCRPO Chief Carmelo Valmoria, Southern Police District Director Henry Rañola, Senior Supt. Elmer Jamias and Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña for “wanton refusal” to acknowledge the TRO handed by the CA.

Hundreds of policemen have occupied portions of the Makati City Hall Building 2 and the Old Makati City Hall despite the issuance of the TRO, which was described by Binay as an imposition of a “quasi-martial law” instigated by Roxas.

READ: Mayor Binay blasts Roxas, decries quasi-martial law in Makati

Certeza also hit the DILG for their continued disregard of the law.

The TRO was issued by the appellate court on Monday hours after the DILG served the suspension order against Binay and other city officials for their involvement on the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

The DILG maintained that the TRO is moot as the suspension order has already been served and that Peña was already sworn in as acting mayor.