Mayor Binay, supporters should be charged – De Lima

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday, June 30, said she will recommend administrative and criminal charges against Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr and his supporters following violent confrontations with the police.

In Binay’s refusal to heed the preventive suspension order from the Ombudsman and his supporters’ assault on authorities who tried to break through the barricades on Monday, they are “already fomenting lawlessness and chaos,” De Lima said.

“We will recommend to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) the possible initiation of administrative charges for insubordination, and possibly even criminal charges, against Mayor Binay for non-compliance with the order of suspension issued by the Ombudsman as disciplining authority,” the justice secretary said in a text message to reporters.

“They are already fomenting lawlessness and chaos in Makati without any regard to authority and peace and order,” she added.

On Monday, the mayor’s supporters who were barricading city hall threw plastic chairs and bottles at policemen who accompanied the DILG representatives who were serving the suspension order – the second for Binay in 3 months.

“The incident was aired live on television and with the videos taken it is most probable that charges will be filed against those shown directly assaulting police officers and obstructing justice,” De Lima said.

According to radio reports, 5 civilians and 3 police officers were hurt in the chaos.

De Lima on Friday echoed the statement of DILG Secretary Manuel Roxas II that Binay cannot treat the city as a “kingdom” independent of the national government’s processes. (READ: Roxas to Junjun Binay: ‘Makati is not your kingdom’)

“Our local governments are still a part of our republican government. They are not kingdoms unto themselves and their mayors should not act like petty kings who can disregard the law with impunity,” De Lima said. – Rappler.com