DILG Serves Suspension Order Vs Makati Mayor Junjun Binay; VM Takes Oath

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday served the suspension order on Makati City Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr. The order was posted at the facade of the Makati City Hall.

After a few hours the suspension order was served, Makati Vice Mayor Romulo Peña took his oath as acting city mayor.

Last week, the Office of the Ombudsman suspended Mayor Binay for six months, including 15 others, over corruption charges in the alleged overpriced construction of the Makati City Hall Building.

In a report, the Mayor has since barricaded himself inside the city hall, in defiance of the suspension, with his supporters camped outside. It added that tension rose early Monday morning as riot police arrived at Makati City Hall.

The suspension order stems from the plunder and graft complaint filed in July last year by lawyer Renato Bondal, a political rival of the Binays, report said.

Bondal claimed the construction of the building was overpriced by P862 million. The lawyer also claimed that Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was then Makati mayor when the building was constructed in 2007, conspired with his son, Junjun, then a city councilor, some former and current Makati officials, and 10 executives of Hilmarc’s Construction Corp. over the building’s construction.

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is also looking into the allegations concerning the Makati City Hall Building II as well as other corruption issues involving the Binays, report said.

For their part, the Binay camp repeatedly said that the allegations against them are politically motivated.

Source: GMA News Online