Junjun Binay refuses to step down as Makati mayor
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay. EDWIN BACASMAS / INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Defiant suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay continues to question the suspension order lodged against him by the Office of the Ombudsman, dismissing it as “baseless” and “illegal.”
“We are questioning a suspension order that is baseless and illegal,” Binay said in a press conference.
Addressing the media about two hours after the suspension order was served by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Binay said that his case now rests in the hands of the Court of Appeals.
“My case is now at the Court of Appeals and this is part of the legal process,” Binay said.
Article continues after this advertisementReiterating that they are exhausting legal remedies available to them, Binay said that he will remain as city mayor until such time that the CA act on his petition for certriorari praying for a temporary restraining order on his suspension.
Article continues after this advertisementThe suspended mayor also asked Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas to recognize the legal process.
“We are following legal processes and to bring the case to court is part of the said process. I wish Secretary Mar Roxas will respect and recognize this process,” Binay said.
He also kept mum on the takeover of Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña as the city’s acting mayor.
However, Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said that their camp is not recognizing Peña’s takeover as acting mayor of Makati City.
“Our position is that the suspension order of is unlawful and not valid. It is void from the start. We are not recognizing Peña as acting mayor,” Salgado said.
Peña was sworn in as the acting mayor of Makati Monday morning. He asked Binay to follow the “will of the people.”
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