Binay camp: Aquino admin tying opposition’s hands with ‘yellow ribbons’

Lawyer Rico Quicho, spokesman for political affairs of Vice President Jejomar Binay, shows to the media photos of police escorts from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who served the dismissal order of suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. The Binay’s camp called this as harrasment.

Lawyer Rico Quicho, spokesman for political affairs of Vice President Jejomar Binay, shows to the media photos of police escorts from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who served the dismissal order of suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. The Binay’s camp called this as harrasment.

THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay likened to martial law the supposed “harassment” of the Binays allegedly by the Aquino administration.

“Martial law na yata kahit wala pang declaration. Hindi na ginagalang ang batas. May sariling batas na alam ang administrasyon na ito. Ang kamay ng mga nasa oposisyon, itinali na ng yellow ribbon,” lawyer Rico Quicho, spokesman for political affairs of Binay, said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Quicho was referring to the incident on Wednesday after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) sent armed police escorts to serve the dismissal order on suspended Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay at his residence in Makati.

“Sukdulan na ito. Sobrang panggigipit na ito. Alam naman natin na hindi si Mayor Junjun Binay ang target nila. Kaya ginigipit ang pamilya ni Vice President ay dahil kandidato siya sa pagka-Pangulo sa 2016. Siya ang tunay na target nila,” Quicho said.

He questioned the DILG’s implementation of the Ombudsman’s order, saying Mayor Binay is still under suspension and the decision could still be appealed in the courts.

“Unang-una, suspended pa si Mayor Junjun Binay. Pangalawa, may panahon pa para mag-file ng Motion for Reconsideration sa Ombudsman at ang order nito ay hindi pa final at executory,” he said.

He slammed the anti-graft body’s haste in indicting Binay, likening the move to an “express lane.” But when it comes to Aquino’s allies troubled by graft cases, the government allegedly does nothing.

“Kapag kaalyado at kapartido, kahit final and executory na ang order ng hukuman, hindi ini-implement ng DILG. Ito ang malinaw na patunay na selective ang justice sa administrasyong ito. Binabaluktot ang batas, ginagamit ang pwersa ng pamahalaan sa mga kalaban sa pulitika,” he said.

But despite the “demolition by perception” of the Liberal Party, which is “painful and difficult for the vice president, Binay said he “would endure all of these for the sake of his countrymen he vowed to serve.”

“Mga kababayan, wala ito sa hirap na dinaranas ninyo sa pang araw-araw dahil sa gutom, kawalan ng trabaho at kawalan ng pag-asa. Hindi po titigil, hindi po hihinto at tuloy po ang laban ni Vice President Binay para sa inyong lahat,” Quicho said.

On Wednesday, Binay spokesperson Joey Salgado said that a convoy of 10 cars from the DILG and mobile cars of the Makati City Police arrived at the home of Junjun Binay to serve the order that the mayor had already received last Friday.

“Nabulabog ang komunidad. ‘Yon pala, nandon sila para i-serve ang order ng Ombudsman na na-isyu last week pa at natanggap na ni Mayor Junjun,” Salgado said.

Salgado said the DILG was “over-acting” and described its action as a form of “harassment.”

“Mabuti na lang at pumasok na sa eskwela ang mga anak ni Mayor Junjun kung hindi ay baka na-traumatize sila na makitang pinaikutan ng mga mobile cars ang bahay nila,” he said.

“Halatang-halata na gusto nilang sindakin si Mayor Binay at iparating ang mensahe na ang administrasyon ang kalaban ng pamilya Binay,” he added.