Binays back in Makati

MANILA, Philippines – Months after Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. was dismissed as Makati mayor, his sister, District 2 Rep. Mar-Len Abigail “Abby” Binay-Campos was proclaimed the city’s new mayor before dawn yesterday, marking the return of the Binay family at the helm of the country’s business capital.

Binay-Campos of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) defeated her rival, outgoing Mayor Romulo Peña of the Liberal Party (LP), by receiving 152,859 votes against Peña’s 137,329 votes. Independent candidate Jimmy Jumawan got 1,755 votes.

There were 299,857 votes canvassed at the Makati Coliseum. The city has 379,303 registered voters.

Another UNA candidate, District 1 Rep. Monique Lagdameo, was proclaimed vice mayor. She received 165,894 votes, trouncing LP bet Karla Mercado, who received 103,209 votes.

Mercado is a daughter of former vice mayor Ernesto Mercado, who was Vice President Jejomar Binay’s vice mayor for years.

The elder Mercado testified against the Vice President, who was accused of plunder, in Senate hearings.

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Junjun’s dismissal in October last year in connection with the alleged overpricing of the Makati city hall parking building 2, worth P2.28 billion.

In February, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales upheld her decision to indict the elder Binay, Junjun and 22 others over the parking building deal.

Ombudsman to charge Binay?

The elder Binay, who was mayor for 21 years, asked the ombudsman to reconsider the October 2015 decision. He said the ombudsman has no jurisdiction to investigate and indict him while he was still Vice President.

Morales, in her February resolution, said Binay was investigated for crimes he allegedly committed while mayor, not while vice president.

She said the October 2015 decision “resolved to hale Binay to court after his term of office as an impeachable officer expires.”

The ombudsman may file charges against Binay with the Sandiganbayan once he steps down on June 30.

Council controlled

The Binay-led slate also took control of the 15-member city council, losing only two seats to Peña’s slate. Among those proclaimed as new councilors were actor Virgilio “Jhong” Hilario and singer Rico Puno, who ran under Binay’s UNA banner.

Actor and former councilor Monsour del Rosario was proclaimed as Makati’s new District 1 congressman while Abby’s husband, businessman Luis Campos, won as District 2 congressman. Both men ran under the UNA banner.

Peña camp alleges fraud

Tension gripped the canvassing of votes after the official tallying was suspended at about 9:11 p.m. with 88.01 percent of the votes cast.

According to Peña’s camp, their supporters prevented the transfer of election paraphernalia and vote counting machines to the city treasurer’s office after complaining of alleged cheating.

Peña’s supporters also claim that the outgoing mayor did not get a single vote in at least three schools that served as poll precincts in District 2, his bailiwick.

His supporters barricaded the Benigno Aquino High School and prevented the transport of election paraphernalia.

At the Rizal Elementary School, Peña’s supporters trapped 117 teachers who served as election inspectors in the building.

Peña’s supporters also barricaded the gates of the Cembo Elementary School.

To ease the tension, the outgoing mayor instructed his supporters to allow the counting of votes to continue and to allow the transfer of election paraphernalia.

Abby said Peña’s supporters did not understand the election process. She also denied that their camp cheated.

“We can’t cheat because we are not in power and we are not administration candidates. He’s the incumbent. He has the machinery for that,” she said.