Junjun Binay vows to fight suspension order

The embattled Makati City mayor also alleged that Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas is responsible for ‘special express’ suspension.

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay vowed to fight the suspension order slapped against him by the Ombudsman.

Binay will be suspended for six months pending the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation over the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

Despite the suspension order, Binay insisted he will remain in his post and will exhaust all legal remedies.

He also accused the camp of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas of being behind his suspension.

In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Binay said the Office of the Ombudsman’s “special express” suspension order against him and several other Makati city officials no longer came as a surprise.

He said the six-month preventive suspension order was signed on Tuesday afternoon, just four days after the Ombudsman decided to proceed with the preliminary investigation into the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.

“Sino ba ang mga bumubuo ng special panel ng Ombudsman na nag-imbestiga po sa akin? Mga prosecutors na kilalang tao ni Atty. Simeon Marcelo, na dating Ombudsman at law partner ni Atty. Nonong Cruz. Hindi lang sila mga abugado ni DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, sila rin ay kilalang mga operator ni Secretary Mar Roxas,” Binay said.

“Sino po ba ang implementing agency ng aking suspension? Ang DILG na pinamumunuan ni Secretary Roxas,” he added.

Roxas lost to Binay’s father, Jejomar Binay, in the vice presidential race in 2010. They are also seen to be pitted against each other in the 2016 presidential elections.

The Ombudsman will look into alleged irregularities in the procurement and award for the design and architectural services as well as the construction of the building.

Binay and his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, face plunder and graft charges for the alleged overpricing in the building’s construction.

Binay and Roxas are seen as possible rivals in the 2016 presidential elections.

Source: ANC