Makati mayor urged to take lecture on proper behavior

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines—Instead of a congressional inquiry, a militant lawmaker suggested that Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay Jr. be compelled to attend a lecture workshop of the Department of Interior and Local Government with his father’s political nemesis, Secretary Manuel Roxas II, as the main tutor.

“I think Mayor Binay was guilty of abuse of power in the incident. Rightfully, he has been criticized for it. I feel we should leave it to the judicial process to resolve the issue should Dasmarinas Village or the guards file charges,” said Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello who felt that a congressional probe on the village exit gate standoff was unnecessary.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said on Saturday that he would introduce a resolution for a House investigation of the Dasmariñas scandal to determine the extent of local officials’ power over police and check if there was any abuse by local chief executives.

Erice said he would submit his resolution to the Committee on Rules, which would determine which committee would handle the probe.

Lecture under Roxas

“If they (guards) don’t (file charges), a profound apology to the guards, an oath before the Chief Justice never to do it again, plus compulsory attendance at a seminar on the proper behavior of public officials conducted by DILG head Mar Roxas would  suffice,” said Bello. Akbayan is a member of the House majority coalition led by the Liberal Party (LP).

Roxas lost narrowly to Vice President Jejomar Binay in the 2010 elections but the running mate of President Aquino has continued to pursue a protest case with the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

Roxas has sought a recount claiming that the unusually high incidence of null and misread votes especially in his political bailiwicks should have been counted in his favor and should be more than enough to surpass Binay’s 727,084-vote lead.

Dasmariñas Village is part of Makati City, which has been ruled by the Binay family for nearly three decades—Vice President Jejomar Binay was mayor from 1986 to 1998 and 2001 to 2010 with his wife, Elenita Binay, taking over as mayor during the mandatory three-year break.

The Binay family is considered the most powerful dynasty in the country with the father second in line to the presidency, the son controlling the country’s main financial district, and two daughters entrenched in Congress—a senator and a representative.

“Members of political dynasties act as if they are lords, as if they are gods in their districts, as if they are God’s gifts to humanity,” said Erice, an LP member, who was hopeful that Congress would pass his bill outlawing political dynasties like the Binays.