The camp of suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay slammed the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Makati City Police for allegedly harassing them.
In a statement, Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said that at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a convoy composed of DILG cars and patrol cars of the Makati Police showed up at the Binays’ residence in San Antonio Village to serve the Ombudsman’s order sacking the mayor from office.
READ: Ombudsman orders dismissal of Junjun Binay | More trouble for Junjun Binay
Salgado said that the community was roused by the arrival of the convoy
“Over-acting naman ang DILG. Malinaw na harassment ang ginawa nila,” Salgado said.
(The DILG was ‘over-acting.’ What they did was clearly harassment.)
He said that its act of serving the Ombudsman’s order would have traumatized the children of the embattled mayor.
“Mabuti na lang at pumasok na sa eskwela ang mga anak ni Mayor Junjun kung hindi ay baka natraumatize sila na makitang pinaikutan ng mga [patrol] cars ang bahay nila,” he said.
(Thankfully, Mayor Junjun’s children had already gone to school, otherwise, they would have been traumatized by the sight of their home being surrounded by [patrol] cars.)
Unfazed by the incident, Salgado said that the alleged harassment will not deter Vice President Jejomar Binay from running for president.
“Halatang-halata na gusto nilang sindakin si Mayor Binay at iparating ang mensahe na ang administrasyon ang kalaban ng pamilya Binay. Nagkakamali sila kung akala nila ay mahahadlangan nila ang determinasyong maglingkod ni VP Binay at ng kanyang pamilya,” he said.
(It is very obvious that they intend to daunt Mayor Binay and that they are delivering the message that the administration is an enemy of the Binay family. They are mistaken if they think that they can get in the way of the determination of VP Binay and his family to serve.)
Last October 9, the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Junjun Binay and other city officials over the controversial Makati City Hall Building 2.
READ: What went before: Makati City Hall Building II probe | Graft raps set vs Binay, son
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said Binay will be dismissed for grave misconduct and dishonesty, as there were “irregularities in the services and contract for the construction in several phases of the parking building.” CDG
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