Makati court workers on half day due to crowds at city hall

MANILA, Philippines – Makati court employees were ordered to go home at noontime on Friday, March 13, as supporters of Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr continued to swarm around Makati City Hall in anticipation of the enforcement of the suspension order against him.

The directive covered employees of the Makati regional and metropolitan trial courts.

Radio reports said that the entrance to the city hall, which houses the Makati RTC and  MTC courtrooms, and the path to the elevators have been blocked because of the brewing situation there, making it impossible for the scheduled hearings to push through. 

City hall authorities have begun imposing stricter security measures following reports that some groups may attempt to cause disruptive activities in the premises.

It is business as usual, however, for other offices though the transactions are “slow” due to the situation, Binay camp spokesman Joey Salgado said in a news briefing.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II had repeatedly said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) intends to serve Binay’s suspension order in the absence of a temporary restraining order (TRO).

The DILG position is supported by the Office of the Ombudsman which ordered the mayor’s  6-month preventive suspension. (READ: Ombudsman: No undue haste in Binay suspension)

Binay’s suspension order stems from complaints over a P11.97-million Makati contract covering the design and architectural services of a car park building. No public bidding, as required by law, was allegedly conducted. – Rappler.com