Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Makati Vice Mayor Romulo Peña was sworn in as the acting mayor of the city on Tuesday morning (June 30) amid tensions after personnel of the Department of the Interior and Local Goverrnment (DILG) served a second suspension order against Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr.
Earlier, Binay’s supporters blocked the DILG personnel, who were set to post the suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman against the mayor.
This suspension was due to the alleged involvement of the mayor in the supposedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Science High School building.
Supporters, who barricaded the entrance to the city hall as early as 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, tried to prevent the DILG personnel from posting the order.
Some of them threw Monobloc chairs at the DILG personnel, who attached the order on one of the city hall’s posts. The tension lasted for five to 10 minutes.
As soon as the suspension order was served, the DILG personnel were escorted out of the premises by the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Officials from different barangays had to calm the crowd down.
As of posting time, there were no reports of injuries.
A suspension order was first issued against the mayor last March for his alleged involvement in the supposed overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.
CNN Philippines’ Patricia Ongsiako contributed to this story.
