MANILA, Philippines – Despite his release from detention in the Senate, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay said he would still raise before the Supreme Court his issues against the chamber.
“I was detained! I was detained and therefore, I have all the legal rights to raise my issues now to a competent court like the Supreme Court,” Binay said in a press conference Thursday after the blue ribbon subcommittee ordered his release.
“Hindi po ibig sabihin na ako po ay pinalaya ng subcommittee ay hindi na po ulit ako pwedeng i-cite in contempt at ipa-detain po ulit…” he said.
Binay’s spokesman, Joey Salgado, said the mayor was detained at the Office of the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms for about three hours.
The mayor reiterated that he was “bodily taken” by the Senate security when he remained steadfast not to face the subcommittee.
“Yes, I was forced to attend the hearing,” he said, responding to a reporter’s query.
Pressed if he was physically dragged into the hearing room, the mayor said: “Yes, physically as evidenced by the bruise nga ho e… Kinapitan po ako e, dalawa po yata. ’Di ko na maalala, masyadong mabilis any pangyayari.”
Rather than face the subcommittee, Binay said he would have preferred to be detained in the chamber.
“Talagang ang gusto ho namin e ma-detain na lang ho ako. Dala ko na ho yung bag ko, nakahanda na ho ako…Handa na ho akong magpa-detain dito sa Senado,” he further said.
Originally posted: 4:19 PM | Thursday, January 29th, 2015