Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. NESTOR CORRALES/INQUIRER.net
“Indeed, today is good day for the rule of law,” the Palace, in a statement noted as it also asserted “there is certainly no place for mob rule in modern civil society.”
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas also hailed the move as a “triumph of the rule of law.”
After a two-day standoff, Mayor Junjun Binay on Wednesday came down from his 21st floor office and told some 1,000 supporters on the Makati City Hall quadrangle that he was stepping aside while waiting for a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals (CA) on a second six-month suspension order by the Office of the Ombudsman.
An urgent petition to the CA for the issuance of a TRO on the suspension directive against Binay and 19 other city officials was tabled by its Tenth Division pending a response to a request to the parties for written comments within 10 days.
“I cannot bear seeing more people get hurt. I cannot endure for us to be treated with violence in the city, that more residents will be affected and services of the city will be hampered. I will, even if it is against my will, leave the city,” Binay said.
Behind him on a makeshift stage were his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, mother Elenita and sisters Nancy, a senator, and Abby, a Makati representative.
Before dawn on Tuesday, a 700-strong force from the Philippine National Police sealed off City Hall to enforce the order by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, suspending him in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities in the construction of the 10-story Makati Science High School building.
The elder Binay confronted the force commander and a brief scuffle later ensued between the policemen and Binay supporters in which several people were injured.
Thanking his supporters for their unwavering support, Binay said: “We have to respect the decision of the court but we will assure you that we will not leave you. Our fight does not end here.”
The Vice President comforted his son with a tight hug while they both appeared crying and the crowd melted away.
Triumph of rule of law
In March, the Ombudsman issued a similar six-month suspension order against the mayor while an investigation was being conducted into the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.
Binay had holed up for 28 days in his office while his supporters kept vigil on the quadrangle until the CA’s Sixth Division issued a TRO, which was contested by Morales in the Supreme Court. The case remains pending.
The Binay camp assailed Morales’ second suspension order as a show of “disrespect” for the high tribunal that could render moot proceedings there.
Morales dismissed suggestions that her second directive was part of Malacañang’s demolition job against the Vice President. A week ago, he resigned from the Cabinet, saying he was through being the “punching bag” of Aquino’s allies seeking higher posts in next year’s elections.
The feisty Ombudsman said she would not tolerate “mob rule.”
“I’m happy because this is a triumph of the rule of law,” Roxas told reporters. “I’m happy that our delivery of services to the people will return to normal. After all, that’s the reason why we entered public service.”
“I thank Mayor Binay for heeding our call to respect the law. The law and only the law should prevail over everybody,” said the Vice President’s potential opponent in the presidential election next year.
Roxas said 85 local officials had been suspended by the Ombudsman, including 21 from the ruling Liberal Party. “They are all equal. This is just a (process) of suspending a local chief executive. That is what’s happening in Makati,” he said.
After engaging Binay and members of his family in a word war, Roxas opted not to answer the latest allegations thrown at him by the Binays.
“Let’s just understand (their situation),” he said. “What’s important is that the delivery of government services will now normalize.”
He ordered the police to maintain peace and order in Makati City Hall and ensure normalcy in the operations of the city government.
Good sign
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, chair of the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, said in a text message that Binay’s decision to step down was a “good sign.”
It manifested that “in his mind, there is a system of laws in place in our country and that the law is not what he interprets it to be,” Pimentel said.
In an interview with reporters, Pimentel said it would now be easier for the Senate to subpoena documents necessary in its investigation against Binay. With a “neutral” acting mayor in position, serving the summons would be a straightforward process, he said. “I believe the process would be facilitated. There would be fewer obstacles,” he said.
The subcommittee is expected to resume its hearings—21 so far—on Makati issues next week. Pimentel said there could be another three to five hearings.
The Binay camp has branded the long-running inquiry a political inquisition intended to derail the Vice President’s presidential ambition.–With reports from Jerry E. Esplanada, Kristine Felisse Mangunay and Leila B. Salaverria