Makati Mayor Junjun Binay ‘slightly bruised’ during arrest

Makati Mayor Junjun arrived at the Senate on Thursday morning, January 29, after the officers of the Senate sergeant-at-arms arrested him, as per the order of the Senate due to his continued refusal to attend the hearings on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.

The Makati mayor arrived a few minutes after the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee started its hearing. The session was temporariliy suspended as Binay’s supporters grew restive. The session resumed once order was restored.

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Upon the resumption of the session, Binay said, “Hindi natin nilalabanan ang Senado bilang institusyon. Meron din kaming mga karapatan na kailangan ding pakinggan.”

Binay added, “I would like to respectfully manifest that I will no longer participate in the ongoing proceedings. I was advised by my lawyers not to attend the hearing. As advised by my lawyers, there’s no reason for me to participate.”

Sen. Koko Pimentel then said that if Binay was willing to cooperate with the probe. PImentel then said, “(Mayor Binay) is free to go. I’ll understand if he doesn’t want to testify due to pending cases.”

Binay’s manifestation was noted and then he was able to leave the Senate.

Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Balajadia Jr. served the arrest order on Binay earlier today.

Supporters of the embattled Makati mayor had gathered in front of the Makati City Hall, expecting the serving of the arrest order on the mayor. Binay did not resist arrest and submitted himself to the Senate sergeant-at-arms.

However, Binay earlier said he was “slightly bruised” when he was dragged to Senate Session Hall. When asked by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV if he needed medical attention, he replied, “I’ll be fine.”

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Before the arrest order was served, Binay dropped by the grave of his late wife, Kennely Ann ”Ken-ken” Lacia-Binay.

The mayor also attended Mass with his supporters at the Makati City Hall.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee earlier cited the Makati mayor and five others in contempt for failing to attend the hearings of the subcommittee, led by Senator Aquilino ”Koko” Pimentel III.

The others are: Atty. Eleno Mendoza, Ms. Eduviges Ebeng Baloloy, Marjorie de Veyra, Engineer Line Dela Pena, and Bernadette Portollano.

Pimentel earlier recommended the same for University of Makati president Tomas Lopez, but he withdrew this recommendation after Lopez wrote of his intention to appear in the next hearing.

The subcommittee is probing the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II and other alleged anomalies involving the mayor’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay.

As the news of his arrest broke, it was also announced that the Makati mayor will seek a relief from the Supreme Court through a habeas corpus petition.