Metro Manila, Philippines (CNN Philippines) — Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales denied having been pressured by anyone, not even President Benigno Aquino III, to issue two suspension orders on Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr.
“Never has the president pressured me,” Morales said on Wednesday (July 1).
She issued two suspension orders on Binay because of two graft and plunder cases filed against him, both over alleged overpricing of two buildings — the Makati City Hall Building II and the Makati Science High School.
No political motives were involved in her decisions, she insisted.
“Tell me if I have abused authority, if i have been vindictive,” she said. “We go by evidence. Di pwedeng nape-pressure. I wouldn’t have been here if I had allowed myself to be pressured.”
Asked if the Binays were being persecuted, as some of their supporters have claimed, Morales said: “Sinong umiipit sa kanila?”
She added: “Nabubuwisit ako. Lagi daw politically motivated. Parang wala nang ginawang tama ang ombudsman.”
It was a mere coincidence that the second suspension order against Mayor Binay was issued shortly after his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, quit from the Cabinet.
The younger Binay finally left Makati City Hall on Wednesday after staying there overnight in defiance of the suspension order and despite the fact that Vice Mayor Romulo Peña had been sworn in as acting mayor of the country premier financial center.
The mayor explained that he was temporarily giving up his post because the Court of Appeals ruled on his petition for a temporary restraining order on his suspension.
Morales herself said she hasn’t seen a copy of the petition.
“I still wouldn’t know what’s he asking to restrain,” she said.
She brushed aside the accusation of some critics that she was on going after opposition politicians.
A lot of the cases filed in her office, she explained, just happened to be against opposition figures because they composed the majority of the previous administration — that is, of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
“If you think i’m impeachable, do so,” she said. “I am apolitical.”
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals Tenth Division issued a resolution, dated June 30, directing the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to comment on Mayor Binay’s petition within 10 days.
