Acting Makati mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
Acting Makati City Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña on Wednesday vowed to bring back normal operations at the city hall after suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay temporarily vacated his post.
Speaking to reporters, Peña said he has issued directives and orders to different department heads to bring the normal delivery of basic services to Makati residents.
“Makakaasa kayo na kasama niyo ako sa tuluy-tuloy nating pagserbisyo sa ating mahal na lungsod (You can expect that I will be with you in the continued service for our beloved city),” Peña said.
READ: Kid Peña takes over Mayor Binay’s post anew
As of Wednesday afternoon, operations inside the city hall were still suspended as hundreds of police guarded the area.
Peña said his camp could not immediately enter the city hall because they still needed to secure certain clearances.
He said he had already directed Councilor Virgilio Hilario Sr. to assume as the city’s vice mayor.
He said he had ordered Makati Police Chief Supt. Ernesto Barlam to maintain peace and order within the city hall premises to give access to the public who have business transactions with the city government.
Thousands of supporters of Binay had already left the city hall grounds after mayor Binay vacated his office at the 21st floor. Binay was ordered suspended by the Ombudsman for the allegedly anomalous procurement in the construction of the Makati City Science High School building.
READ: Junjun Binay vacates post
Peña assumed his post as acting mayor after officers of the Department of Interior and Local Government served the suspension order at the entrance of the city hall amid the opposition of Binay’s supporters. This is the second time in less than four months that Peña is serving as the city’s acting mayor. IDL