Rule of law must prevail amid standoff in Makati City Hall—Palace

Communications Sec. Sonny Coloma. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The rule of law must prevail amid the suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay which has resulted in a standoff at the Makati City Hall, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Kailangang sundin ang mga kautusang legal dahil tayo ay pamahalaan ng batas, hindi ng tao,” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

(We must follow legal orders because we are a government of laws, not of men.)

Coloma issued the statement after a defiant Mayor Binay refused to acknowledge the suspension order by the Ombudsman over the allegedly overprice Makati City Science High School.

READ: Amid 2nd suspension, Mayor Binay seeks CA help anew

On Tuesday morning, officials of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) served the suspension order but were not allowed to personally provide the order so it was posted instead at the entrance of the city hall.

READ: Violence erupts as DILG serves suspension order vs Mayor Binay

A brief scuffle erupted between police and Binay’s supporters after the latter threw bottled waters and chairs at the police.

In March, Binay was also ordered suspended by the Ombudsman due to the irregularities in the Makati City Hall Building II. He also refused to leave his office until he secured a temporary restraining order from the Court of Appeals, which stopped the suspension. IDL