Makati vice mayor ready to take on city’s top post

Makati City Vice Mayor Romulo Peña Jr., who is poised to take over the city following Mayor Junjun Binay's suspension, indicated on Friday that he was ready to assume the leadership position according to his mandate.

Peña said he had no personal quarrel with the Binay family, a report from GMA's “24 Oras” said Friday.
 

According to Peña who is part of the ruling Liberal Party opposing the Binay's, he didn't want the turning over of power look like it was politically motivated.

 

“Ayaw ko sana ma-brand as Liberal Party member [sa issue na ito]. Una ang taas ng respeto ko kay Vice President [Jejomar] Binay. Panagalawa si Mayor Junjun [Binay] ay kaibigan ko po,” Peña said.

 

“Ang nangyayari po ngyaon ay talagang hindi natin inaasahan at pag tungkol sa mga kaso wala akong kinalaman diyan,” he continued.

 

Peña's statement comes after the Ombudsman on Wednesday slapped Mayor Binay and 15 others with a six-month suspension from their political duties.

 

The suspension stemmed from corruption allegations concering the alleged overpricing in the construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

 

Due to this, Mayor Binay has cooped himself up in the Makati City Hall with his supporters who are anticipating the Department of Interior and Local Government's service of his suspension.

 

According to Binay, his reason for staying in the Makati City Hall was to prevent any untoward incidents.

 

“The plan here really is to avoid any confrontation. Kung implement na 'yung order that they will tell us before hand na may pupunta na dito, kasi nga ayaw namin magkagulo dito,” he said.

 

Binay added that he believes his whole council will also be removed from power.

 

“Kung tama nga po itong nababalitaan namin na gusto nila ay ubusin ang mga opisyales dito at maglagay ng isang officer in charge then that is a disservice to the thousands of Makati residents who had voted me to become the mayor of this city as well as the counselors,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Peña said he wanted to talk to Binay to fix things and that he was willing to set up office in the streets if the latter and his supporters would not leave the city hall.

 

“Ang pinaka primal fear ko diyan is magkaroon ng kaguluhan. At sana tulad ng nasabi ko kanina na maisip nilang lahat dapat ipractice din natin,” he said.

 

“Anyway temporary lang ito. After na mapatunayan nila kung saka sakali 'yung mga dapat nilang patunayan and in turns out na okay naman edi dalawang kamay ibabalik natin kung ano man 'yung posisyon na iaatang sa atin ng DILG,” he continued.

 

Peña first ran as a barangay captain for Makati City under the banner of the Binays' United Nationalist Alliance political party.

 

He then split from UNA in 2010 as he ran for and won Makati's vice mayor position as an independent candidate. His running mate then was former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado who has been accusing the Binay's of corruption.

 

In 2013, Peña sought reelection and won under the Liberal Party's banner. His running mate was Atty. Rene Bondal who was a whistleblower in the Makati City Hall Parking Building II anomaly against the Binays. —Andrei Medina and Amita Legaspi/NB, GMA News