OMBUDSMAN Conchita Carpio-Morales on Wednesday said her decision to suspend Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr. and 14 other city officials is in accordance with the law.
In a news conference, Morales said that she has “strong evidence” against the Makati officials.
“I always decide in accordance with the law and evidence. Otherwise I have no reason to be here. Para sa kanila wala nang ginawang tama ang Ombudsman,” an angry Morales said.
“The Office of the Ombudsman is independent and performs its mandate according to law and the evidence,” Morales said, adding, “It will never succumb to any perceived pressure or be blinded or deafened by political grandstanding.”
Morales added that her office is also just acting in accordance with the Ombudsman’s mandate.
On Monday, Morales approved the six-month preventive suspension of Mayor Binay and 14 other city officials in connection with the alleged overpriced construction of 10-story Makati Science High School building.
Morales said that she ordered the preventive suspension of Binay and 14 other respondents in seven administrative cases, “all for Grave Misconduct, Dishonesty and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, in connection with the alleged irregularities that attended the Makati Science High School building construction worth P1,349,980,757.50.”
“Preventive suspension is not punitive as it is preventive in nature meant to protect the integrity of the investigation process. Public interest requires that those in positions of power and authority do not have the opportunity to tamper with public documents and harass witnesses to frustrate the ends of justice,” Morales said.
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Question, please. With Junjun Binay’s second preventive suspension of six months and if the Supreme Court decides against the CA TRO on the first Binay suspension, will Junjun’s suspension be for one year?