Junjun Binay twits Roxas: PNP not your ‘private army’

SUSPENDED Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay took a swipe anew at Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II after being told by the latter that he did not own the city while he was being urged to step down.

Following the scuffle that erupted at the Makati City Hall between police and Binay’s supporters on Tuesday, Binay said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is not Roxas’ “private army.”

“We have a Constitution. Hindi rin naman private army ni Secretary Roxas ang PNP,” Binay said in an interview with ANC Headstart.

On Tuesday, Binay’s supporters threw bottled waters and chairs at police officers as personnel from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the suspension order on Binay and 14 other city officials.

But Binay defended his men in the same interview, saying that it was the police who started the commotion.

READ: Violence erupts as DILG serves suspension order vs Mayor Binay | My supporters did not start Makati City Hall scuffle—Junjun Binay

Binay also made the statement after his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, was accused of assaulting police officers who supposedly blocked his relatives from entering the city hall.

Citing Roxas’ supposed defiance of the temporary restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals against the first suspension order against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, the younger Binay said he was hoping that the Interior secretary would undergo a change of character.

“Nagdadasal ako, sana po, magbago ang ugali ni Secretary Roxas pagdating ho doon sa pagbibigay ng restraining order sa akin. Kasi po ‘yung una hindi niya ginalang eh. Now, do I expect him to follow it? Kaya magdadasal na lang po ako na ngayon sa pagkakataong ito eh susunod naman po siya sa batas,” he said.

Binay said the fact that he temporarily vacated his post on Wednesday proved that he was not acting as the king of Makati City.

“Hindi po ako naghari-harian dun. Kaya pinapakita ko sa pagbaba ko kahapon that I follow the rule of law,” he said.

READ: Junjun Binay vacates post 

On the issue of political dynasty in Makati, the suspended mayor said his constituents re-elect Binays to office not because of their surname but their brand of service.

“This is a premiere city, matatalinong mga botante, so regardless of family name ang titignan nila sino totoong nag-perform, sino ang may magandang hangarin para sa lungsod ng Makati,” Binay said. “’Yan ang magiging batayan, hindi apelyido. We win elections because what we do and what we plan to do with the city. This is not about our family, this is about the people we serve.” With a report from Mary Gillan Frances Ropero, INQUIRER.net trainee