Peña challenges Binay to step down if mayor had nothing to hide

Makati Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Acting Makati City Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. challenged Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. to heed the suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman if he had nothing to hide.

“If there is really nothing to fear, if there is really nothing to hide, accept the preventive suspension and prove them all wrong,” Peña said.

Peña, who held his first flag-raising ceremony as acting mayor on Monday morning, said the issue was not about politics but about the government’s anti-corruption drive. He stressed that it was not a proxy war between Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and the suspended mayor’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

READ: Binay, Peña hold separate flag-raising ceremonies in Makati

“This is not about Mayor Jun and Kid Peña, or VP Binay and Secretary Mar. This is about the crusade of the government against corruption,” he said.

Peña’s camp celebrated Monday’s flag-raising ceremony as “historic,” saying it was the first time in 29 years that a new chief executive with a different surname other than “Binay” led the weekly event.

In his speech, he outlined his plans for the city, including decent housing for Makati’s informal settlers and more benefits for city employees and senior citizens.

He maintained that he wanted the standoff to be resolved as peaceful as possible and if the court ruled against his favor, he would willingly step down.

READ: Peña tells Makati City council: Recognize me as mayor 

“Ang hangarin ko po ay kapayapaan. Sumunod lamang ako sa pinagtitibay ng batas (I desire peace. I am only following what the law dictates),” Peña said.

Meanwhile, Binay hit the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for not abiding by the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals.

“Tayo po ay nakakuha ng TRO subalit ito po ay ayaw galangin. Ayaw pong galangin ng DILG kaya tayo ay nandito pa rin,” (We were able to secure a TRO but it is not being respected. The DILG refuses to respect the TRO that’s why we are here) Binay said.

The embattled Makati mayor remained defiant, telling his supporters and city hall officials that he would fight for the city until the end.

“Hindi po kami nasisiraan ng loob,” (We are not disheartened) the suspended mayor said, adding, “Mahal po natin ang lungsod ng Makati kaya hanggang sa huli, ipaglalaban natin ito.” (We love the city of Makati that is why we will fight for it until the end.)

After presiding over their separate flag-raising ceremony, Binay went straight to his office at the 21st floor while Peña held a closed-door meeting with some supporters in the Old City Hall.

The standoff in the city leadership stemmed from an order from the Office of the Ombudsman preventively suspending Mayor Binay and other city hall officials on March 11 due to their involvement in the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

After the service of the suspension order last March 16, Peña was sworn in as acting mayor. Hours later, Binay’s camp secured a TRO from the appellate court.