VP Binay slams Peña for suspending Makati sister city pacts

“BAKA nakakalimutan ni Vice Mayor Peña na temporary lang siya doon.”

This was the reaction of Vice President Jejomar Binay after acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña said he would be suspending Makati’s “sister city” agreements with other local government units (LGUs).

On Tuesday, Binay said Peña did not have the authority to suspend the program extending financial aid to partner cities, which the Vice President said he initiated when he was still the mayor of Makati.

“I think it’s wrong that one who is in acting capacity, papalitan ‘yung policy na ‘yun. Kapag naging permanent na siguro. Pero, ‘yang mga policies na ganyan hindi ho sakop ‘yan sa acting capacity, limited lang talaga ang mga services na pwedeng pakialaman ng isang in acting capacity,” Binay said in an interview with reporters in Burgos, Pangasinan.

Peña on Friday said one of his housekeeping acts, along with reviewing contracts of city hall employees to check for bogus workers, was to suspend Makati’s sister city pact. This would also prevent controversial hotel Makati Friendship Suites from accepting guests from LGUs.

“I apologize to our LGU friends, but this has to be done so we can give priority to our problems and whatever needs to be fixed in Makati. I have issued an order for the Friendship Suites not to accept visitors from other LGUs temporarily,” Peña said.

READ: Peña targets Makati ‘ghosts,’ suspends sister city pacts

Asked for reaction on accusations that the “sister city” agreements were being used by the Binays to advance political interests, the Vice President said the aim of the program was to share Makati’s “blessings” to less fortunate Filipinos in other cities.

“Bakit namin ipagmaramot? ‘Yung pinagpalang tinanggap namin sa Panginoon hindi namin dapat ipagmaramot at ibibigay din natin ‘yung biyaya sa ating mga kababayan,” Binay said. “Minamasama ho yata nila ‘yung makatulong sa kapwa lalo na sa mga mahihirap. Malungkot.”