Ombudsman junks Junjun Binay’s appeal on dismissal from gov’t

MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has completely shut the door on sacked Makati Mayor Junjun Binay’s return to the City Hall.

The anti-graft body has denied the appeal of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s son seeking to annul its previous order imposing a lifetime ban on him from joining the government service.

A ranking Ombudsman official, who agreed to talk on condition of anonymity, confirmed Thursday night that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has thumbed down the former mayor’s motion for reconsideration.

Along with 19 other city officials, the younger Binay was axed from his position over the allegedly fraudulent construction of the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II in October 2015.

In ordering Binay’s dismissal, Morales said “flagrant anomalies were found to have been committed by Binay et al. in the design and construction of the building consisting of six phases.”

“Binay had the obligation to ensure that the contracts he was entering into were fair, reasonable and advantageous to the government,” Morales said.  SFM