Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. stepped down from his post on Wednesday (July 1) to abide by the six-month preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Binay decided to “temporarily” leave his post after failing to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals.
“Ako ay pansamantalang lilisan sa munisipyo,” Binay told the crowd that gathered at the Makati City Hall.
[Translation: I’m temporarily leaving city hall.]
Makati Vice Mayor Romulo Peña was sworn in as the acting mayor of the city on Tuesday amid tension between supporters of Binay and personnel from the Department of the Interior and Local Goverrnment (DILG) who served the order.
“Hindi ko na kayang tiisin na may masasaktan pa. Kaya ako’y pansamantalang bababa sa aking puwesto. Pero hindi pa tapos ang laban,” Binay added.
[Translation: I can’t bear to see anyone get hurt. So I’m temporarily stepping down from my post. But the fight is not yet over.]
Binay thanked the people at city hall for their continued support and for staying in the quadrangle for the past few days.
He explained that he had filed a petition for a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction before Court of Appeals, to put a stop to the preventive suspension.
According to Binay, he received information that the Court of Appeals had neither granted nor denied his petition.
But to prevent any more aggression, Binay said that he was temporarily stepping down from office.
He said he would respect the court and wait for the decision of the Court of Appeals, even if the law seemed to have been bent against his favor.
Binay’s second suspension was due to his alleged involvement in the supposedly overpriced construction of the Makati City Science High School building.
After delivering his speech, he hugged his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was on the stage with him.
He was also accompanied by his sister, Sen. Nancy Binay and his mother, former Mayor Elenita Binay, along with several barangay captains of the city.
