The Department of Interior and Local Government has confirmed receiving the suspension order against Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay and 14 city officials and said it would implement the order in the “most expeditious and peaceable way.”
It also called on the officials, who were ordered suspended for their participation in the allegedly anomalous construction of the Makati Science High School building, to abide by the rule of law and subject to the order of the Office of the Ombudsman.
‘‘This stands as a lawful order of the Ombudsman, a constitutionally-created and independent office of the Republic. The Department is duty-bound to implement the said order in the most expeditious and peaceable way,” the DILG, which is headed by Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, said in a statement to the media on Monday.
Earlier Roxas, while he was with President Benigno Aquino III during a groundbreaking ceremony in Cebu, confirmed that the DILG already got the order but said he has not personally seen it.
READ: Ombudsman issues 2nd suspension order vs Mayor Binay
In serving the suspension order, the DILG said its officials would be assisted by the Philippine National Police “as necessary.”
“As a general rule, maximum tolerance shall be observed,” it added.
But as the Ombudsman issued the suspension order, Mayor Binay refused to receive it when it was served at his office at the Makati City Hall. The Joint Order was then served at Binay’s residence.
READ: Junjun Binay defiant over Ombudsman’s second suspension order
Aside from Binay, other officials suspended were Pio Kenneth Ilando Dasal, Lorenza Punzalan Amores, Norman Domingo Flores, Leonila De Guzman Querijero, Cecilio P. Lim III, Nelia Argana Barlis, Giovanni Ilio Condes, Ralph Encela Liberato, Ulysses Estanislao Orienza, Manolito N. Uyaco, Gerardo Kangleon San Gabriel, Raydes Barias Pestaño, Eleno Monasterial Mendoza Jr., and Mario Valenzuela Badillo.
This is the second time Binay and other city officials were suspended. The first suspension order the Ombudsman issued was for Binay’ alleged involvement in the overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.
This was followed by a standoff when Vice Mayor Romulo Peña was sworn in as mayor as Binay holed up in his office.
Days after the order, the Court of Appeals issued a 60-day temporary restraining order stopping the implementation of the suspension order, which triggered a virtual tug-of-war between Binay’s camp and the DILG.
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