Junjun Binay to DILG: Stop 'martial law' in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay on Tuesday slammed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for not following the Court of Appeal's temporary restraining order on the mayor's suspension order.

The DILG insisted that Vice Mayor Romulo Peña perform his functions as acting mayor of Makati City.

Binay questioned the DILG's interpretation of the Ombudsman's six-month suspension order in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall parking building.

According to Binay, the DILG was only tasked to serve the suspension order.

"Kung meron man po silang mga katanungan itanong po nila ito sa korte. Wag po silang sila-sila lang mismo ang nag-iinterpret ng ruling ng Court of Appeals," Binay said in a press conference.

The Makati Mayor also called on the DILG to stop the "quasi-martial law" in the city.

"Ang nakakalungkot ay parang may martial law dito sa Makati... Kailangan ho bang umikot-ikot si Col. Jamias na pinalilibutan ng mga pulis na may dalang armalite?"

Binay said that it was unnecessary to deploy police officers and called on the agency to respect the ruling of the Court of Apepals.

READ: CA stops Junjun suspension

Peña, who took an oath yesterday as acting mayor of Makati, is also set to perform his duties as mayor alongside Binay who insists that the suspension  order was illegal.

Binay reiterated that Peña's oath-taking was not just a defiance of the court's ruling but also a defiance of the Makati citizens' will.

"Ako po ang nahalal overwhelmingly noong eleksyon. Ako po ang pinili ng mga taga-Makati na pamunuan po sila," Binay said.

The Makati Mayor will hold a meeting with the city's department heads within the day, noting that "everything is normal."