CA junking of Junjun Binay’s bid expected, says spokesman

The spokesperson for twice-suspended and later-dismissed Makati Mayor Junjun Binay said Friday that the decision of the Court of Appeals junking Binay’s petition that questioned his second preventive suspension was already expected.

“We have not received a copy of the decision but the mayor’s lawyers have been expecting the decision,” Joey Salgado said in a brief statement.

According to Salgado,  the appellate court’s  decision to junk Binay’s petition against the Ombudsman and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in connection with his suspension over the allegedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Science High School was a “consequence of the illegal resolution” of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales dismissing Binay from government service “even in the absence of compelling evidence.”

Salgado was referring to Carpio-Morales’ order that was announced earlier this month, after she said there was strong evidence to hold Binay guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty in connection with the allegedly overpriced construction of another building, the P2.28-billion Makati City Hall Building II.

The Ombudsman then also barred Binay from ever holding public office after also suspending him.

“The mayor’s lawyers have filed a motion for reconsideration on the said Ombudsman resolution,” Salgado said.

In its decision promulgated on Friday, the Court of Appeals emphasized that  Binay’s second preventive suspension in connection with the construction of the Makati City Science High School has been deemed “overtaken, if not superseded, by the order of dismissal by Carpio-Morales.”