PUBLIC services will remain suspended in the country’s financial capital until Thursday because police are searching for bombs in the Makati City Hall vacated by Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., who was suspended by the Ombudsman.
Vice Mayor Romulo Peña, who took over as acting mayor, postponed a meeting with division heads of the city government and city councilors, and met with barangay leaders instead.
No reason was given for the postponement.
“We were not allowed to use the building because of the ongoing inventory there. But this is temporarily, we have to respect it and wait for the police to give us a clearance. As I was saying, we are not eager to move in and for me, my priority is my constituents,” Peña said during a press conference.
Peña said he will instead use the old city hall building until the police finish their “paneling” of the city hall’s 23 floors.
Police said paneling is standard operating procedure in which they search for bombs and other explosive devices to ensure the safety of the occupants.
Work in local courts and government offices was suspended since Tuesday because of the two-day tension and disruption at city hall.
Violence also erupted in front of city hall Tuesday when supporters of Binay tried to prevent policemen and personnel of the Department of Interior and Local Government from serving his suspension order.
At least eight supporters and a female police officer were injured during the scuffle.
Last March, Peña also used the old building as his office when the Office of the Ombudsman issued the first preventive suspension order against Binay over the alleged overpricing of the Makati City Hall Building II.
The first suspension order was stopped by the Court of Appeals, however.
In the Senate, Senate Antonio Trillanes IV, who has led a campaign to jail Vice President Jejomar Binay, said his son’s suspension would allow the Senate to gather more proof connecting his family to corruption.
“The stepping down of Mayor Junjun Binay will have a big effect on our investigation because we can gather more evidence from the Makati City Hall,” said Trillanes in a text message to senate reporters.
He also considered Binay’s decision a challenge Peña to step up and perform the duties expected of him.
“This is also a big challenge to acting mayor Kid Peña to show Makati that there will be more and bigger benefits if their leaders will not be corrupt,” Trillanes said.
Trillanes, along with Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Blue Ribbon subcommittee chairperson Senator Aquilino Pimentel III have been leading the Senate investigation on the alleged anomalies committed by the Binays.
The subcommittee has conducted a total of 21 hearings since last year. It has also co me out with a partial report that recommended the filing of plunder charges against the Vice President and his son and other personalities.
Also on Wednesday, the Supreme Court ordered the suspension of work at all trial courts in Makati City effective 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.
In an advisory, Court spokesman Theodore O. Te said that a skeletal force would be on call at the Enhanced Justice on Wheels buses.
Makati City court employees were advised to wait for further advice on work resumption. – With Macon Ramos-Araneta