Suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA
MANILA, Philippines—There is nothing to restrain.
The Department of Interior and Local Government maintained that the six-month preventive suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay still stands despite the temporary restraining order the Court of Appeals issued on Monday.
A few hours after Vice Mayor Romulo Peña was sworn in as mayor of Makati City’s, the CA’s Sixth Division issued a 60-day restraining order stopping the implementation of the Office of the Ombudsman’s resolution suspending Binay and other city officials.
“As can be seen from the foregoing, the order of the Ombudsman has already been carried out; hence, there is nothing to restrain. In fact Vice Mayor Romulo Pena already took his oath at 9:47 a.m.,” the DILG said in a statement.
The department said it will seek the opinion of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima “in view of these conflicting orders.”
Earlier Monday, DILG NCR Director Rene Brion served the suspension order at the Makati City Hall. The DILG statement said Brion was denied entry into the building and prevented from going to the mayor’s office.
“RD Brion posted in full public view a copy of said suspension order, thus carrying out the Ombudsman’s order of serving notice to the Mayor,” it said.
Binay’s refusal to heed the suspension led to a standoff between his supporters and hundreds of policemen. As the embattled mayor continued to hole up in his office, regular business transactions in Makati City Hall were also interrupted.
It was at 3:09 p.m. when the DILG received a notice of resolution from the CA. “We note in the dispositive portion that the Court granted petitioners’ prayer for a temporary restraining order.”
But the DILG maintained that it will “uphold at all times the rule of law.”
“We continue to assure the public that our primary concerns are upholding the law, the continued delivery of services to the people of Makati, and preserving peace and order.”