Binays cry harassment by DILG

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay yesterday slammed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for “overkill” in serving the dismissal order against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

A convoy composed of DILG cars and patrol cars of the Makati police surrounded the Binays’ residence in San Antonio Village to serve the ombudsman’s order dismissing the mayor from office at around 8:30 a.m.

Joey Salgado, spokesman for Junjun, said the DILG officials and police officers were out to intimidate the Binays as the mayor’s dismissal order was served shortly after its issuance last week.

“The DILG was overacting. What they have done is clear harassment,” Salgado said, adding that it was good that Junjun’s children had gone to school or they would have been traumatized.

Yesterday’s incident was meant to harass the Vice President and his son into not pursuing their political plans, Binay’s spokesman for political affairs Rico Quicho said.

“It’s like martial law without declaration. They no longer respect the law. This administration has its own laws. The hands of the opposition are tied with the Liberal Party (LP)’s yellow ribbon,” Quicho said.

He said the Vice President is the real target of the administration’s demolition job.

“They are harassing the family of the Vice President because he is running for president in 2016. He is the real target,” Quicho said.

“Why do you need to serve a dismissal order twice?” Quicho said, adding that the order should be served by the sheriff and not by policemen.

‘Dismissal order not final’

Quicho said legal experts agreed that the ombudsman’s order is not immediately executory because it could still be appealed.

He also questioned the ombudsman’s “express lane” treatment of cases involving the Binays as opposed to the DILG’s special treatment of LP allies. 

Earlier, the mayor’s camp argued that the order of the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing him from government service is not yet final.

Binay is expected to file his certificate of candidacy to seek reelection as Makati mayor.

However, should the ombudsman’s order be deemed final, Binay’s sister, Makati 2nd District Rep. Mar-Len Abigail said she is willing to take her brother’s place. 

After seven months’ investigation, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on Friday ordered the dismissal from office of Mayor Binay for the allegedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

Also removed from office were 19 former and incumbent city officials for grave misconduct and serious dishonesty.

The ombudsman slapped Binay and his co-respondents with administrative charges, prohibiting them perpetually from holding public office.

Dismissed were Marjorie de Veyra, Pio Kenneth Dasal, Lorenza Amores, Virginia Hernandez, Line dela Peña, Mario Badillo, Leonila Querijero, Raydes Pestaño, Nelia Barlis, Cecilio Lim III, Arnel Cadangan, Emerito Magat, Connie Consulta, Ulysses Orienza, Giovanni Condes, Manolito Uyaco, Gerardo San Gabriel, Eleno Mendoza Jr. and Rodel Nayve.

DILG: No harassment

An official of the DILG maintained there was no harassment when DILG personnel and police officers served Mayor Binay’s dismissal order.

“We went to his house to facilitate the implementation of the ombudsman’s order,” said Ma. Lourdes Agustin, officer-in-charge of the DILG-National Capital Region.

“The police officers were there to help us,” she said. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe