SC asked to hold ‘special raffle’ on petition involving Mayor Binay’s case

Makati Mayor JunJun Binay delivers his speech at the Makati City Hall after Ombudsman issued suspension order against him and 22 other Makati City staff (PNA photo)

MANILA — The camp of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to hold a “special raffle” for the petition she filed questioning the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) against the suspension order imposed on Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

The Ombudsman earlier imposed the “immediately executory” six-month prevented suspension order against Binay and 22 others for plunder and graft cases in connection with the alleged “overpriced” construction of the Makati City Hall Building II.

However, the CA issued a 60-day TRO against such suspension order by the Ombudsman.

In the urgent motion she filed through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), Morales reasoned out the so-called “urgency” of the said case and the damage that the Ombudsman may suffer if their petition will not be immediately acted upon.

Morales also cited the “confusion” brought about by the TRO by the CA’s Sixth Division to the residents of Makati City and to those who have transactions at the Makati City Hall.

In her petition, the Ombudsman asked the SC to issue a TRO against the restraining order by the CA on the suspension order of Binay and stop the contempt proceedings.

The Ombudsman argued that they cannot be restrained by the CA because they are an “independent constitutional body.

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Morales also argued that it is within the power of the Ombudsman to suspend government officials who are being investigated on allegations of graft and corruption.

The CA also earlier set the oral arguments on the petition for contempt filed by Binay on March 30 and 31, 2015 at 2 p.m.