Court stops Junjun Binay's suspension order

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) — The Court of Appeals on Monday issued a temporary restraining order against the Office of the Ombudsman's suspension order against Makati Mayor Erwin Jejomar "Junjun" Binay.

The court's Sixth Division said the halt order will last for 60 days, the same period of the suspension order's effectivity.

On Monday, the Department of Interior and Local Government served the suspension order on Binay.

The order was posted at the facade of the city hall, where Binay had insisted he would stay while awaiting the decision of the appellate court on his petition questioning his suspension.

In issuing the TRO, the court cited "seriousness of issues raised" in the petition of Binay as well as the order's "possible repercussions on the electorate."

The court also ordered Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to explain the suspension order in writing and in a round of oral arguments on March 31 and 31.

The preventive suspension of Binay, the son of Vice President Jejomar Binay, was to give way to state prosecutors' investigation into his role in the alleged overpriced construction of Makati City Hall II parking building.

Binay had alleged that the suspension order was "politically motivated" following the plan by his father to run for president in the 2016 elections. - reports from Edu Punay