MANILA, Philippines–Refusing to leave his office on the 21st floor of City Hall, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay said he had the right to perform his duties as an elected official until the Court of Appeals (CA) decides on his petition for certiorari.
In a press conference on Thursday morning, Binay said he would continue sleeping on the sofa in his office while his lawyers were asking for a temporary restraining order on his six-month suspension by the the Ombudsman.
“It was hard sleeping on the sofa (with a sleeping mat as his cover) but we will continue staying here. We will not leave. If we leave, it will look like we already gave up,” the mayor said.
He said his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, and his entire family also stayed at City Hall on Wednesday night.
The mayor said they would not allow a member of the Liberal Party to take over his post as mayor. Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña is expected to head the city once the suspension order takes effect.
Vice mayor no-show
Peña, however, has been a no-show in his office since Wednesday, when the suspension order against Binay and 21 others, who are being investigated for the irregularities in the construction of Makati City Hall Building II, was announced by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Binay said that he was still the mayor and that all offices at City Hall were functioning normally.
The only difference was the presence of his supporters who stayed overnight at the quadrangle, he said.
Asked if they planned to set up barricades during the serving of the suspension order, Binay said he did not want any untoward incident but noted that he could not control what the people want to do.
On Thursday afternoon as news of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s receipt of the suspension order reached the Binay camp, the doors of City Hall were closed, leaving only the main entrance open to certain people, including the media, the mayor’s supporters and some city officials.
Only one elevator was left operational for the use of those going to the mayor’s office on the 21st floor.
Binay remained in his office for the rest of the day except for one instance when he left for a press conference at an adjacent conference room.
Human barricade
About a hundred supporters stayed at the reception hall leading to the mayor’s office, almost serving as a human barricade in case people carrying the suspension order came. More than 1,000 supporters from various barangays (villages) in the city were at the quadrangle.
One of those who have been at City Hall since early Thursday morning was 65-year-old Angie Yu, who said she was a neighbor of Binay in Barangay San Antonio.
“We are here to show support because he has been a very good mayor in the city providing various benefits, especially to us senior citizens,” Yu said.
She said she, along with other San Antonio residents, was ready to block those who would serve the suspension order on Binay.
With the city mayor promising to stay in City Hall until the Court of Appeals decides on the petition for certiorari, Binay’s supporters vowed to also spend their nights at the quadrangle.
With makeshift tents as their only protection, Binay’s supporters have been staying on the grounds of City Hall since Wednesday afternoon.
Packed meals
They have been provided with packed meals by the city government and entertainment by various barangay officials and supporters who organized singing and dancing contests for the people.
Some invited entertainers played games with the people at the quadrangle on Wednesday night, keeping the crowd awake until the next day.
The mayor said the DILG should respect the petition and not insist on implementing the suspension order.
“Why is there still a need for preventive suspension when in fact, there have been several Senate hearings conducted on the case, and we have been able to provide them all the subpoenaed documents?” Binay said.