Supporters of Makati Mayor Junjun Binay throw chairs at policemen in a clash at the Makati City Hall as authorities try to enforce the suspension order on Binay.
(INQUIRER)
Manila — The entire Makati City Hall shut down its operations yesterday as the second suspension order on Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay was served and posted at the entrance of the City Hall Building by officers of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
With the metal door at the City Hall entrance rolled down and hundreds of policemen barricading all entrances to the premises before offices opened at 8 a.m., it was impossible to enter the City Hall even for employees wanting to perform their daily job functions.
Armed with truncheons and shields, about 700 police officers heavily guarded the entrance of the City Hall building as DILG National Capital Region (NCR) officer-in-charge Maria Lourdes Agustin posted the 12-page suspension order of Binay and 14 other city officials in relation to the investigation of the construction of the Makati Science High School.
Tensions rose as Binay supporters tried to push their way through police barricades shouting “Papasukin niyo kami!” (Let us in!) and even throwing monobloc chairs at some of the policemen. But some employees of the city hall claimed that the police were the ones who started the scuffle and pushed the people away from the entrance.
Christine Ramirez, an employee of the Makati Action Center, presented a medical certificate from the Ospital ng Makati showing that she sustained bruises on both her arms after the policemen pushed her with their shields and denied her entrance to the City Hall.
“I just wanted to get inside the building because we have work today,” Ramirez said, noting that the police continued pushing her and the rest of the crowd gathered near the entrance of the city hall.
Barangay Carmona Bantay Bayan officer Eric Enriquez, meanwhile, was allegedly hit with a truncheon at the back of his head and was injured.
The tensions were not the only problem at the city hall as numerous clients wanting to avail of the services in the city were furious after knowing that they would not be able to continue with their transactions.
The lockdown was also met with rage by city government employees, who lamented that it was the 30th and worried that they would not receive their wages if they failed to come in for work.
Joey Salgado, Makati City spokesperson, said they would ensure that the city hall employees would receive their wages accordingly.
Policemen stationed at the City Hall grounds admitted that they were directed not to let anyone inside the building.
VP BINAY INTERFERES
This was not the first heated incident yesterday. Detailed policemen personally had an altercation with Vice President Jejomar Binay and his group who circled the Old City Hall building to ask the ground commander, Senior Supt. Elmer Jamias, to remove the barricades around the city hall.
The Vice President was caught on camera pointing his finger at Jamias, telling him that what they were doing was illegal and a way to harass their family and the city government.
But Salgado explained that the Vice President only went down to confront Jamias to tell them that what they were doing was wrong.
“Chief Insp. Gideon Ines refused to let the Vice President in the area so some of the supporters got angry and there was a short scuffle,” Salgado added.
He also noted that the injured residents like Enriquez and Ramirez will file cases against Jamias and his policemen.
Asked about Jamias’ plan to file cases of assault upon person in authority and threat and oral defamation against the Vice President and some of his men for the incident on Monday night, Salgado said it is their right.
‘grand plan’ of LP
Mayor Binay said the Liberal Party has a hand in the current standoff in the city leadership.
Following the oath-taking of Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña yesterday morning, Binay said taking over the city leadership was the “grand plan” of the administration party.
“We have seen this before. This is the grand plan of the Liberal Party. Vice Mayor [Romulo] Peña is a member of the Liberal Party. And who is the candidate vying for the presidency [in 2016]? Isn’t it [Interior Secretary] Mar Roxas?” Binay said.
appeal for tro
Binay’s camp said they have filed a petition asking for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to the Court of Appeals on Monday with them hoping that until a decision is reached, the police and the DILG will respect them. /INQUIRER