Following Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ statement to suspended Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay that the latter does not own Makati, Sen. Nancy Binay on Wednesday said her family never treated the city as their kingdom.
In an interview with reporters during the launch of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Wednesday, the senator said she did not know where Roxas got the idea that the Binays had been lording over Makati.
“Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagpaparating si Secretary Mar ng ganoon. Siguro ang tingin niya sa Capiz, kingdom din nila. We’ve never treated Makati as our kingdom. We are public servants of Makati,” Binay said.
READ: Roxas to Mayor Binay: You’re not special, you don’t own Makati
Roxas, the presumptive standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, is a native of Roxas City in Capiz.
“Kaya nga, makikita niyo naman ’yung serbisyo na natatanggap ng mga constituents ng Makati, far, far better than, I guess, ’yung mga natatanggap na mga benepisyo dun sa bayan ni Secretary Mar sa Roxas City,” Binay added.
While urging Junjun Binay to step down as mayor amid a suspension order, Roxas on Tuesday said “no one is king” in Makati except the rule of law.
“This is not a telenovela or a drama about your family lording it over Makati City. This is about the rule of law which says you are suspended by the Ombudsman,” Roxas said. “You are not special. Many officials have been suspended before. You are only putting on a show; your constituents are getting hurt and transactions are halted.”
Junjun Binay temporarily vacated his post on Wednesday after failing to secure a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals against the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman regarding the overpriced Makati Science High School.
Senator Binay attended the UNA launch with the suspended mayor, their father, mother Elenita Binay, and sister Rep. Abigail Binay. UNA is set to propel the presidential bid of Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2016 elections.
Amid the allegations being hurled against the Vice President and his family, Senator Binay said the issues surrounding them were making their bond stronger.
“Every day, the family keeps on getting stronger. Lahat ng pagsubok na pinagdadaanan namin ngayon, mas tumitibay ’yung loob namin na makipaglaban para sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” she said.