Junjun Binay protests removal of ‘qualified’ officials at City Hall
Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. (left) and Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. INQUIRER PHOTOS / RICHARD A. REYES
The camp of suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay called the appointments of new heads at the University of Makati (UMak) and Ospital ng Makati (OsMak) by acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña “a purge of qualified city officials” and not a facelift.
Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a text message that both the Makati university and public hospital have long been known “for quality and efficient management.”
“In fact OsMak is ISO certified, which means it complies with international quality standards of service and management. It was started during the time of the Vice President (Jejomar Binay) and Mayor Jun continued it. It’s not a facelift, it’s a purge of qualified city officials,” Salgado added.
Peña announced last week that he has appointed Dalisay Brawner as officer in charge (OIC) of the government-run UMak to “spearhead needed reforms in the university.”
For OsMak, the acting mayor gave the leadership role to Dr. Danilo Anastacio, whom he claimed would represent the “new leadership” tasked with the hospital’s “facelift” and “needed reforms.”
Through Anastacio, Peña “intends to address persistent complaints from residents about slow service and inefficient staff, among other problems,” a photo release and announcement from the city read.
Salgado slammed these changes in leadership noting that Peña was not the one who chose these new appointees but former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, a known critic of the Binays and a Senate resource person on the investigations on alleged corrupt practices of Vice President Jejomar Binay and his son.
“What remains unanswered is the role of former Vice Mayor Mercado in the appointments. He is really the one choosing OICs (officers-in-charge),” added Salgado.
Binay’s spokesperson also earlier called Peña a “figurehead and a mere font” of Mercado.
“He is not in charge. The ones calling the shots at City Hall are former Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado and Engr. Mario Hechanova. These are the two ex-Makati officials who publicly admitted to their corrupt activities,” Salgado added.
Binay stepped down from his office last July 1 to serve his six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman as it investigated the allegedly overpriced Makati City Science High School Building. As vice mayor, Peña took over as acting mayor. Among his first acts was the suspension of Makati’s sister city agreements with over 600 local government units across the country, and a review of the City Hall’s service and employment contracts to get rid of ghost employees.
