Binay camp: ‘OA’ DILG served Junjun Binay’s dismissal order at home

Mara Cepeda

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Binay camp: ‘OA’ DILG served Junjun Binay’s dismissal order at home
(2nd UPDATE) 'Malinaw na harassment ang ginawa nila,' says vice presidential spokesperson Joey Salgado

 

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The camp of suspended Makati mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr slammed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for serving his dismissal order at his house in Barangay San Antonio on Wednesday, October 14.

Joey Salgado, a spokesperson for Vice President Jejomar Binay, said the dismissal order had already been served to the Binay camp on Friday afternoon but a convoy of cars carrying DILG and Makati police officers arrived around 8:30 am Wednesday at Binay’s house to serve the dismissal order once again.

“Over-acting naman ang DILG. Malinaw na harassment ang ginawa nila. Mabuti na lang at pumasok na sa eskwela ang mga anak ni Mayor Junjun kung hindi ay baka natraumatize sila na makitang pinaikutan ng mga mobile cars ang bahay nila,” Salgado.

(The DILG was over-acting. What they did is clearly harassment. It’s a good thing that Mayor Junjun’s children already left for school. Otherwise, they would’ve been traumatized after seeing mobile cars surrounding their house.)

“Halatang-halata na gusto nilang sindakin si Mayor Binay at iparating ang mensahe na ang administrasyon ang kalaban ng pamilya Binay (It’s obvious that they want to show that the administration is against the Binay family),” he added.

Rappler is trying to confirm the allegation with Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and the Philippine National Police (PNP), but they have yet to respond as of this posting.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered the younger Binay’s dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from holding public service, along with 19 other city government officials, over the alleged overpricing of the Makati city hall parking building II.

On Monday, Morales said that criminal charges will be filed against the Binays and 22 other city officials for graft, malversation of public funds, and falsification of public documents in connection with the bidding and construction of the Makati city hall parking building II. (READ: Ombudsman sets charges vs VP Binay, 23 others)

Mayor Binay’s lawyer Claro Certeza previously said they plan to file an appeal before the Court of Appeals as soon as they get a copy of the Ombudsman’s resolution.

The Binay camp had also questioned the timing of the Ombudsman’s order is “suspicious” as it was served just days before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2016 elections.

Mayor Binay was expected to run for re-election, but his dismissal order is forcing his family to consider other options. The Vice President has filed his COC for president.

Salgado said the latest incident will not affect the Binay family’s resolve to serve the people.

Nagkakamali sila kung akala nila ay mahahadlangan nila ang determinasyong maglingkod ni VP Binay at ng kanyang pamilya (They are wrong if they think this will stop VP Binay and his family’s determination to serve),” he said. 

Vice President Binay is the opposition standard-bearer. A yearlong corruption inquiry, and a series of legal moves against his family weigh down his candidacy. He had said that he foresees possible arrest after he files his candidacy. 

'QUESTIONABLE METHOD.' Binay spokesperson for political affairs Rico Quicho presents photos of the supposed harassment done by policemen and members of the DILG in serving for the second time the dismissal order against Makati Mayor Junjun Binay. Photo by Ayee Macaraig/Rappler

‘Do they do this to LP members?’

Vice President Binay called for a press briefing at his office in the Coconut Palace on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the incident but he backed out at the last minute. Instead, his spokesperson for political affairs, Rico Quicho, addressed the media in Pasay along with Salgado. 

Presenting photos of the incident, Quicho branded the service of the dismissal order as “harassment.” The lawyer said that it should be the sheriff or employees of the Ombudsman who should serve the order, not the police. 

“When it is the police that serves an order, that is extraordinary. Because the police usually serve a warrant only. They do not serve an order or resolution of the Ombudsman,” said Quicho.

He added: “There were cameras, high officials, and even arms.”

Quicho though did not specify who the “high officials” present were. 

Binay’s spokesperson questioned both the manner and timing of the service of the order. He said the presence of police in the Binay residences caused a “commotion.” 

Asked how the police presence constituted harassment, Quicho said: “You know the order has been served. Do you have to serve it twice? What’s this, you serve the order every day? And with policemen and members of the DILG? I do not think that is fair.” 

He then contrasted the authorities’ move with actions on cases involving members of the ruling Liberal Party (LP). 

“Have we seen the Ombudsman or the DILG doing this to convicted members of the LP? This only happens with the family of the Vice President so actions speak louder than words. If they say they are doing their jobs, they have to do it not sparingly but to everyone. Otherwise, we will see selective prosecution, selective justice.”

The lawyer said the Binay camp is still studying its next legal moves, including filing a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman. 

He said there were procedural and substantive issues that the Binays will consider.

What is certain, said Quicho, is that the supposed “harassment” will not stop Binay from pursuing his presidential bid.

DILG: There was no harrassment

In an official statement, however, DILG National Capital Region director Maria Lourdes Agustin denied any harrassment on their part.

Sa mga balitang na-harassed daw po ang mga Binay dahil pinalibutan ng police mobile cars ang bahay nila, wala po itong katotohanan.Ang totoo po niyan ay humingi lamang kami ng tulong mula sa Makati PNP para samahan kami dahil puro po kami mga babae,” she sad.

(There is no truth to the reports saying that the Binays were harrassed because the police mobile cars surrounded their house. The truth is that we asked helped from the Makati PNP to accommpany because we are all females.)

She said the DILG received an order from the Office of the Ombudsman to serve the joint decision on Mayor Binay’s dismissal. They then coordinated with the Makati police through the National Capital Region Police Office.

We went to Mayor Binay’s residence to implement the Decision. Noong una ay nagpunta kami sa Banuyo cor Santol St , pero we were advised by the Security personnel na pumunta sa Caong St. dahil nandoon ang taong authorized na mag-receive ng documents,” she said.

(We went to Mayor Binay’s residence to implement the Decision. At first, we were asked to go to Banuyo corner Santol Street, but we were advised by the security personnel to go to Caong Street instead because that is where we can find the person authorized to receive the documents.)
 
Sa Caong St, kami ay sinabihan na maghintay na lamang sa may boom (malapit sa bahay ng mga Binay) sapagkat may sasalubong at kakausap sa amin. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay dumating ang security personnel kasama si Mr Francis Saguni, ang sinasabing authorized personnel na tatanggap ng dokumento,” she added.

(We were told to just wait in Caong Street somewhere near the Binays’ house because someone would be meeting us there. After a few minutes, security personnel arrived along with Mr Francis Sagun, the person authorized to receive the documents.)

According to Agustin, they only requested a “minimum” number of police personnel to help them serve the dismissal order.

Standard operating procedure o SOP na po namin sa DILG ang magpasama sa peace officers kapag kami ay nag-iimplement ng Decision for security reasons (It’s standard operationg procedure for us in DILG to have peace officers come with us when implementing decisions for security reasons),” she said.

Agustin also had a direct message for Mayor Binay: Maraming salamat po sa maayos na pagtanggap ninyo sa amin (Thank you for accommodating us properly.) – with reports from Ayee Macaraig/Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.