Junjun Binay’s camp cries ‘harassment’ by DILG, cops
MANILA — The camp of dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay on Wednesday accused the Department of Interior and Local Government of harassment after agency officials accompanied by Makati City Police officers allegedly surrounded his house in Barangay San Antonio to personally serve the order of the Office of the Ombudsman on his dismissal from government service.
Joey Salgado, spokesman for the dismissed mayor said the DILG officers and the police officers were out to intimidate Binay as the dismissal order was already received by his camp shortly after its issuance last week.
Salgado said the DILG and police vehicles arrived at the dismissed mayor's house at about 8:30 a.m.
"Kaninang umaga, mga bandang 8:30 a.m., dumating sa bahay ni Mayor Junjun Binay ang isang convoy ng mga sasakyan ng DILG at mga mobile cars ng Makati Police. Nabulabog ang komunidad. 'Yon pala, nandon sila para i-serve ang order ng Ombudsman na naisyu last week pa at natanggap na ni Mayor Junjun," said Salgado in a statement.
"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 na-traumatize sila na makitang pinaikutan ng mga mobile cars ang bahay nila," Salgado added.
Salgado said the DILG and the Makati Police have intended to intimidate both dismissed mayor Binay and his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, into not pursuing their political plans.
"Halatang-halata na gusto nilang sindakin si
Mayor Binay at iparating ang mensahe na ang administrasyon ang kalaban ng pamilya Binay. Nagkakamali sila kung akala nila ay mahahadlangan nila ang determinasyong maglingkod ni VP Binay at ng kanyang
pamilya," said Salgado. The camp of dismissed Mayor Jejomar Binay earlier argued that the order by the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss him from government service is not yet final. Binay, said his camp, would still be filing his certificate of candidacy to seek reelection as mayor of Makati City. If elected in next year's polls, Binay will be serving his last term as Makati City mayor.
Should the Ombudsman's order be deemed final, however, Binay's sister, Makati 2nd District Rep. Mar-Len Abigail said she is willing to take her brother's place.