Junjun Binay can run for office if no final conviction in cases—Comelec

Junjun Binay—NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Former Makati Mayor Junjun Binay can still run for public office in the May 2019 elections as long as he has not yet been given a final conviction in his pending cases, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson said.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Friday that Comelec has to determine the circumstances of Binay’s disqualification case because only political aspirants with “final conviction” on cases are barred from running for elections.

“Under the law, a final conviction will bar you from running for office. If there’s any appeal pending maybe or if it’s not a final conviction then it won’t fit the criteria for disqualification,” Jimenez said in an interview over at ABS-CBN News Channel.

Jimenez said that there is no rule stopping the Comelec from accepting Binay’s certificate of candidacy (COC) if he files for one. He added that the poll body can evaluate the COC and come up with a decision.

“What we do is we accept the filing. We basically just receive the document but it undergoes an evaluation process where we can either cancel the certificate of candidacy or not give it due course. Basically the end result is the same; you don’t end up in the ballot. If you don’t end up in the ballot then you’re not running,” he added.

In 2015, The Ombudsman ordered the dismissal and perpetual disqualification from service of Binay, who was then Makati mayor, over the controversial Makati parking building.

READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Junjun Binay

In a radio interview on Friday, Junjun Binay said that his disqualification case has to have a final and executory decision which can only be rendered by the Supreme Court. He said one of his cases were already reversed by the Court of Appeals while the other one is undergoing appeal.

“Right now, ‘yung isang case, it has already been reversed by the Court of Appeals. The other case, it’s on appeal sa Court of Appeals so walang final and executory decision and therefore I can run for any post this coming post this coming election,” Binay said in at interview over DZMM.

READ: Ombudsman erred in dismissing Junjun Binay, CA says

Binay is said to be eyeing the mayoral post in Makati in the 2019 polls. /je