Belmonte: PNoy holds no sway over Ombudsman, has no hand in Binay suspension

President Benigno Aquino III had no hand in the Ombudsman's suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay this time in connection with the graft case related the alleged overpricing in the construction of a building at the Makati City Science High School, a leader of the administration said on Monday.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Monday dismissed the opposition’s accusation that Malacañang is behind the Ombudsman’s order.

Belmonte said it is unlikely that Aquino influenced Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales’ decision to approve Binay’s suspension considering that he had failed to exert control over the Supreme Court and Commission on Audit on vital matters.

“I don’t see President PNoy trying to influence anybody. He couldnt influence [Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes] Sereno. He couldn’t influence Conchita. The former COA chair (Grace Pulido Tan) hindi niya ma-influence. Pati si Leonen (Associate Justice Marvic Leonen) 'di niya kaya,” Belmonte said.

As proof that Aquino does not hold sway over independent government agencies, Belmonte said that the Supreme Court magistrate who wrote the decision striking down the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, was appointed by the President.

“Siyempre, kapag naupo na sa posisyon na ‘yan, they tend to be their own bosses,” the Speaker said.

DAP struck down

Aside from agreeing that the PDAF was unconstitutional, Sereno and Leonen also voted in favor of striking down certain acts under the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the administration’s economic stimulus initiative.

For her part, Pulido Tan said prior to stepping down from her post that COA was already conducting an audit of fund releases under DAP.

Earlier in the day, the Ombudsman approved the preventive suspension of Mayor Binay and 14 other individuals in connection with their supposed involvement in the allegedly overpriced construction of a Makati Science High School building.

The son of Vice President Jejomar Binay and other city officials are facing graft and other criminal and administrative complaints in connection with the ten-storey building's construction.

Harassment from the Malacañang

Following the Ombudsman’s announcement, Vice President Binay's spokesperson for political affairs Rico Quicho said the suspension of Mayor Binay was a form of "harassment from the Malacañang."

"The Vice President will not be cowed by this act of harassment from Malacañang. In a level playing field, all these specious and baseless allegations will be dismissed but the field is stacked against perceived political opponents. We do not expect a modicum of fairness from this administration," Quicho said.

Last March, the Ombudsman also ordered Mayor Binay and other officials of the Makati City government in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of Makati City Hall Building II.

The Supreme Court has indefinitely suspended the implementation of the Ombudsman's suspension order pending their resolution on a case filed by the Ombudsman saying that the justices from the appellate court, which issued a temporary restraining order on Binay’s request, abused their in authority in stopping the implementation of the suspension. -NB, GMA News