Headline
Acting Makati Mayor prefers Binay spokesman to take leave
MANILA — Acting Makati Mayor Romulo “Kid” Pena wants long-time spokesman of Vice-President Jejomar Binay and suspended Makati Mayor Junjun Binay to take a leave.
Pena said in an interview with ANC Headstart that he prefers Joey Salgado to go on leave so he could appoint a new spokesman of Makati.
Pena said that Salgado, who receives a monthly salary of about P30,000-P40,000 had not reported for work since the younger Binay stepped down from his post.
He added that Salgado, a paid employee of Makati City has a contract that expired in June.
“We gave him a memo to report to me and I am still waiting for his reply,” he said in the interview with Karen Davila.
The acting Makati Mayor said that he has no problem with Salgado remaining as the city’s spokesman but agreed that there could be a conflict of interest.
This is because of Salgado’s ties with the Binay’s.
“For me, sa totoong-totoo lang hindi ako ganun…Siguro kung papayag rin lang naman siya mag-aano ako ng OIC or mag leave muna siya.”
(I’m not really like that. Maybe if he will agree that I will appoint an OIC or he will go on leave.)
He also clarified after consulting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Commission on Elections that he has all the powers of a regular mayor.
“If it is only for 30 days, actually, wala akong power talaga na mag-appoint, maghire o magtanggal. Pero kasi six months yung binigay sa akin, may power ako na gawin yung mga bagay na yun contrary dun sa mga sinasabi nila,” he said.
(It is only for 30 days actually and I don’t really have the power to appoint, hire or fire. But I was given six months, I have the power to do those things contrary to what they were saying.)