VICE President Jejomar Binay yesterday cited the suspension of his son Makati City Mayor Junjun Binay as an example of the “arrogance” of government in failing to uphold the rule of law.
Speaking before a national convention of lawyers at the Waterfront Lahug Hotel in Cebu City, the Vice President lambasted the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for ignoring a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals against the 60-day suspension order issued to his son by the Ombudsman.
“Two executive departments and the Ombudsman as well, in a stubborn display of arrogance, are basically ignoring a lawful court order,” he said.
Binay praised the Court of Appeals for its independence and likened it to the IBP’s independence in opposing what he said were the executive department’s attempts at intimidating the judiciary in the wake of the impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Our IBP has never been found wanting in all the times that the rule of law had come under assault from the abusive arm of government,” Binay said, adding that lawyers are the primordial advocates and defenders of the rule of law, “without which, justice can never prevail nor the stability of the social order be preserved.”
Binay said that he is thankful that lawyers are asserting the supremacy of the court restraining order over the interpretations of the Ombudsman and the DILG.
Binay, who started out as a human rights lawyer before the 1986 EDSA revolt, said, “The effort of the Bar assures society that there is an institution that is ready to defend the constitutionally-mandated separation of powers.”
Motive
In a press conference following his speech, Binay said he had many reasons for criticizing the Ombudsman and the DILG in public.
“I am also a lawyer. I cannot fathom how, until now, such acts still exist. A TRO has been issued and they disobey it outright. What in the world is that?” he said.
The vice president said that this gives him the impression that the Ombudsman and DILG might have been taking the justices of the CA for “idiots.”
“It’s just so unfair,” he added.
Binay also called unfair the “open defiance” shown by the two government bodies. He said a motion for clarification could have been filed before the CA.
Visit
The vice president, just like in previous interviews, said that his frequent visits to Cebu are not a form of campaigning.
Binay has been open about seeking the presidency in 2016.
“Among others, I am here to follow up on our projects for shelter, particularly that with Mayor (John Henry) Osmeña and the long-running 93-1,” he told reporters.
In November 2014, Binay visited Cebu instead of heeding a Senate invitation to appear in an inquiry on the plunder case charged against him and his son.
Last January, Binay gave out 7,500 food packs to victims of typhoon Seniang in southern Cebu.
Last month, he stood as a principal sponsor for 400 couples in a mass wedding organized by the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF), popularly known as Pag-IBIG.
Earlier this week, he distributed relief goods to fire victims in barangay Basak Pardo, Cebu City.
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