(Updated) MAYOR Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and 14 Makati City government officials were ordered suspended for six months by the Office of the Ombudsman pending investigation on the allegation that the Makati Science High School building was overpriced by P826 million.
The officials are facing seven administrative cases, all for grave misconduct, dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, according to the suspension order, which came a week after Vice President Jejomar Binay severed ties with the government of President Benigno Aquino III.
"Since their respective positions give them access to public records and influence to possible witnesses and considering the apparent repeated and similar schematic pattern applied in these transactions, respondents' continued stay in office may prejudice the cases filed against them," the Ombudsman said.
But Binay was defiant, telling reporters in a press conference that he will not be leaving the City Hall as his lawyers are due to fight the suspension before the Court of Appeals (CA).
His supporters also camped outside the City Hall to express solidarity with him in anticipation of the implementation of the suspension order by the Department of Interior and Local Government, which is headed by the Vice President’s bitter political rival, Secretary Manuel Roxas II.
"This precipitate and unduly harsh action demonstrates the undue haste and priority given to investigations against the Vice President and his family, while pussyfooting on the anomalies perpetrated by Liberal Party and administration allies," said lawyer Rico Quicho, Vice President Binay’s political affairs spokesperson.
Quicho said the Vice President "will not be cowed by this act of harassment from Malacañang" and that they expect "more retaliatory and oppressive maneuvers" against the Vice President and his family.
"This is but part of their conspiracy to deny the people the competent and compassionate governance which the Vice President intends to share to the people," he said.
The Vice President is eyeing to succeed Aquino in 2016.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. believes Aquino has no hand in Binay’s latest suspension.
“I don’t also see President P-Noy trying to influence anybody,” said Belmonte.
Belmonte cited the actions made by Aquino appointees such as Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen who both voted against the constitutionality of the administration’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as well as the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers.
The suspension stemmed from a complaint by lawyer Renato Bondal, the same person who earlier asked the Ombudsman to investigate the Vice President, Binay, and political allies for the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building 2.
The Ombudsman issued a six-month suspension order against Binay in March but the CA issued a permanent injunction that stopped its implementation.
The anti-graft body had already questioned the CA's action before the Supreme Court.
In his complaint, Bondal said the Binays, together with other officials of the Makati City Hall, have benefited from the construction of the Makati school, which was constructed when the Vice President was still mayor of the country’s financial district.
Citing 2013 industry data by David Landon and Shea, Bondal said the project should have only cost P470 million since the average cost of construction per square meter is only P25,620.
Measuring 18,373 square meters, the 10-storey school was built for P1.33 billion or P72,500 per square meter. (John Carlo Cahinhinan/Sunnex)