Mar to Junjun: Respect suspension order

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Thursday advised suspended Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay to respect the suspension order and prepare for his defend his case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

 

"Mahirap talaga ang sinapit ni Mayor Binay sa hagupit ng batas laban sa kanya – pero uulitin ko ang batas ay batas, at lahat tayo ay sakop ng batas. Kaya maipapayo ko na lang kay Mayor Binay ay bigyang panahon niya ang paghanda ng kanyang depensa," Roxas said as mayor refuses to accept his suspension, holing out at the Makati City Hall along with his supporters.

 

Roxas said the department has received the suspension order to be implemented on Binay and several city officials regarding the Makati parking building case.

 

At the same time, Roxas said that one of the duties of his department is to enforce the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Ombudsman against Binay in connection with the alleged overpriced Makati parking building. 

 

"Ang pinaka importante  sa akin ay ang tuloy tuloy , regular , walang patid   na paghatid ng  serbisyo sa mga mamamayan ng Makati , kaya sisiguraduhin ko po ito.Tulad ng iba pang mga utos ng mga nakatakdang awtoridad tutuparin po ng DILG ang  utos ng Ombudsman sa maayos, propesyonal at patas na paraan," he said. 

 

Roxas also belied the claims of Binay that the suspension is part of the plan to discredit his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who is said to be eyeing the presidency in 2016.

 

"Ang Ombudsman  ang nagdesisyon na may sapat na ebidensya para sa pagsuspindi kay Mayor  Binay.  Wala tayong lahat magagawa kundi ito ay respetuhin at ang DILG naman ay napag utusan lang ng mga husgado na ipatupad ang batas dahil kabahagi yan ang trabaho ng ahensya," Roxas said. 

 

Roxas ran for the vice presidency in the May 2010 national polls  but lost to the elder Binay.