Peña takes over as Makati City Mayor

Then Vice Mayor Romulo ‘Kid’ Peña (left) with Mayor Jejomar ‘JunJun’ Binay of Makati City (Photo courtesy of Peña’s Facebook page)

MANILA — in lieu of Makati Mayor Jejomar ‘JunJun’ Binay’s preventive suspension, Makati Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña has taken over as acting mayor on Monday morning.

Peña was sworn in as acting mayor at the Baranggay (Village) Hall of Poblacion as staff from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) attempted to serve the 30-page suspension order to Binay at the Makati City Hall.

Tension rose when Binay’s supporters barricaded and blocked the entrance of the city hall. Members of the DILG had no choice but to post the suspension order on the wall instead.

Binay refuses to leave his office in protest to the preventive suspension order issued by the Office of the Ombudsman on March 11. His camp believes DILG Sec. Mar Roxas is behind the suspension for politicially motivated purposes.

Sen. Nancy Binay, Mayor Binay’s sister, delivered a short speech afterthe DILG members left the City Hall. She asked Roxas to respect and observe the legal process in dealing with her brother.

After being sworn in the presence of DILG and a judge, Peña appealed to (JunJun) Binay to respond to their constituents.

“Sundin po sana natin ang kagustuhan ng taumbayan (Let us follow what the people want [us to do]),” Peña said.

Peña, a member of the Liberal Party, will remporarily use the Barangay Hall of Poblacion. He also plans to “cleanse” the Makati City Hall and meet with the department heads to get government offices back to work as soon as possible.