Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Now that he is at the helm of the Makati City Hall, acting Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña said on Monday (July 6) that one of his top priorities is to investigate the allegedly anomalous contracts the past Binay administrations had entered into.
“Napaka-importante nito, ‘di pwedeng hahayaan lang,” Peña said. “This is an opportunity of a lifetime, to be mayor even if it is only in acting capacity.”
[Translation: “This is of utmost importance, we can’t just ignore it. This is an opportunity of a lifetime… to be mayor even if it is only in acting capacity.”]
Evidence Recovery Team
And to aid in these investigations, Peña ordered all the department heads of Makati to open their books to an Evidence Recovery Team. Peña said though, that he is not part of the team as he would merely coordinate the needs of its members.
The team is led by Mario Hechanova, former head of the General Services Department, and lawyer Renato Bondal.
Hechanova earlier claimed in a Senate Blue Ribbon Subcommittee hearing that Vice President Jejomar Binay, who served several terms as Makati mayor, ordered the rigging of the bidding and awarding of contracts to favored suppliers in Makati.
Bondal, on the other hand, filed a plunder case against Binay over the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II.
Watch: Senate orders arrest of Binay finance officer
In 2010, Bondal ran for the Makati mayoralty but lost to Binay’s son, suspended Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr.
Both Bondal and Hechanova, meanwhile, visited Peña in his office Monday afternoon.
“We have a team now at the city hall that is going through the contracts executed before,” Bondal said.
He said one of the anomalies they are looking into is the fact that Binay aide Eduviges “Ebeng” Baloloy was receiving pay and benefits even if she had not reported for work since the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee started its investigations.
Related: 14 cited in contempt for skipping Makati building hearings
The Evidence Recovery Team is also looking at the possible irregularities in the monthly procurement of cakes, janitorial services, and security services at the Makati City Hall.
“There was no bidding, no negotiations,” Bondal said. “We’re also helping the ombudsman get evidence.”
‘Sister cities’ of Makati
While investigations and reviews are being conducted, Peña added that he is putting on hold the “sister cities” project of Makati and the use of the Friendship Suites in Makati by these sister cities.
Sen. Nancy Binay, on the other hand, said she was saddened that Peña had to stop some services being offered by the city government.
“Ganyan naman talaga pamumuno kapag Liberal Party — palpak at manhid. True to form,” the lady sentor said.
[Translation: “That’s usually the leadership you get when it comes to the Liberal Party — ineffective and callous. True to form.”]
She added they already expected that Peña’s camp would accuse her family of engaging in illegal deals as soon as he took control of the Makati City Hall.
