Junjun Binay arrested

Makati Mayor Junjun Binay (Facebook photo)

MANILA – After being cited for contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) for ignoring Senate invites, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin ‘Junjun’ Binay Jr. — son of Vice President Jejomar Binay — was arrested Thursday morning.

Anticipating the arrest, which has been signed on Tuesday by Senate BRC Chair Senator TG Guingona, Binay’s supporters  started surrounding the city hall as early as 6:00 AM Thursday. A holy mass was also held at around 8:30 AM inside the city hall to show solidarity with their Mayor.

Binay visited the tomb of his late wife Kennely Ann Lacia-Binay before heading to his office.

With a detention order at hand, Senate sergeant-at-arms Jose Baladia Jr. Arrested the younger Binay at the Makati City Hall at around 9:00 AM (Manila time) and left, heading to the Senate, about an hour later.

“Mali po ang nangyayari doon kaya matatag po tayo [na] sabihin nang paulit-ulit na hindi na tayo haharap diyan (What is happening is wrong, that’s why we can firmly say again and again that we will not face [the Senate hearing]),”Binay said to the media before being taken to the Senate.

Instead of facing the Senate, Binay plans to go to the Supreme Court for assistance.