Junjun Binay and Kid Peña: A tale of 2 Makati City mayors
Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. (left) and Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. INQUIRER PHOTOS / RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines–Black and white were the dominant colors during two flag-raising ceremonies at Makati City Hall on Monday, led separately by two officials claiming to be the one in charge of the city.
On the quadrangle, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. spoke before some 2,000 supporters who were mostly wearing black to protest the alleged takeover being planned by the camp of Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr.
Binay claimed that he was still in charge of the city despite the Office of the Ombudsman’s order suspending him for six months in connection with the alleged overpricing of Makati City Hall Building II. He said that the Court of Appeals’ (CA) temporary restraining order (TRO) had stayed his suspension.
Not so, claimed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, noting that the TRO was moot and academic because Peña had been sworn in as acting mayor on March 16 hours before the TRO was issued.
On Wednesday last week, Binay’s supporters went home but came back on Sunday afternoon after reports surfaced that Peña’s camp was planning to enter City Hall where Binay has been staying for almost two weeks.
Back to quadrangle
“We have been issued a temporary restraining order but the Department of Interior and Local Government does not seem to respect it,” Binay told the crowd as he slammed the DILG’s alleged defiance of the TRO.
Expressing his gratitude to the people who stayed with him from the start, Binay said he would not leave his office and would continue his fight to keep his leadership of the city.
“We love the city so much and we will fight for it until the end,” he added.
A few minutes after the ceremony on the quadrangle, Peña, who claims he is the acting mayor after he took oath when the suspension order was served on Binay, led a flag ceremony at the old City Hall building on J.P. Rizal Street.
White shirts, balloons
He was joined by about 300 supporters wearing white T-shirts with the words “Thou Shall Not Steal” and carrying white balloons.
Reading his handwritten speech, Peña said there was no truth to reports that his camp would attempt to enter City Hall and force Binay to step down from his post.
“I am only acting based on what the law dictates and I do not want any violence to happen,” Peña said, adding that he and his supporters wore white to symbolize peace.
He, however, reiterated his call for Binay to step down “if there is really nothing to hide” and urged the mayor to just accept the preventive suspension and prove that all the accusations against him were false.
Peña shared with the audience how he would run the city. Under his leadership, Peña said he would focus on giving additional benefits to residents of Makati, especially the youth and the elderly.
Authorized signatory
Asked about the authorized signatory to disbursements of the city, Peña said the release of the salaries of employees would not be affected by the issues roiling Makati.
He expressed hope that the Department of Finance would soon appoint a new treasurer who “will report directly to him.”
Legitimate mayor
But while waiting for the appointment, Peña said he was open to a dialogue with Binay to discuss how to ensure that the city hall employees will receive their pay by the end of the month despite the debate on who should sign the documents and checks.
Binay said there was nothing to talk about. “We already have a TRO and all they need to do is follow the law.” He noted that the people, especially the employees and Makati residents, should not be involved and suffer the consequences of the leadership issue in the city.
“We stand firm that with the TRO issued by the CA, there should be no doubt that I am the only mayor of the City of Makati,” Binay said.
After the flag-raising rites, Peña proceeded to his office on the ground floor of the old City Hall building where he met with his coordinators from various barangays (villages).
He also took time to greet and talk to his supporters before visiting some barangays, which has become his daily routine since he was elected vice mayor.
Binay went back to his office on the 21st floor of the new City Hall building and met with various vendors’ associations that expressed support for and recognized him as the head of the local government.
Resolve impasse
As the impasse dragged on, Sen. Francis Escudero urged Binay and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to sit down and resolve the matter.
“Either or both of them (Binay or Roxas) should seek a clarification from the CA instead of prolonging this standoff,” Escudero said.
The senator chided both camps for being unyielding in their respective positions at the expense of the local government.
“They allowed their personal rivalry to affect a small disagreement, which they can discuss on how to resolve it with minimal interference on the delivery of basic services to the people of Makati,” Escudero said in a text message.–With a report from Gil C. Cabacungan
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