SENATE INQUIRY ON ICC: Senate President Franklin Drilon (left) denies he has anything to do with the bidding for the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center. “To set the record straight, I had nothing to do with the bidding for the project. I did not participate in the constitution of the Bids and Awards Committee. I did not interfere with any part of the bidding process, nor did I nominate or appoint the winning bidder,”Drilon told the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014. The Senate is conducting an inquiry into the alleged overpricing of the convention center. Also in photo is Senator Teogisto “TG” Guingona III, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-Jun” Binay Jr. should accept the suspension order of the Office of the Ombudsman just like what some senators did when they were also ordered suspended over the “pork barrel” scam, Senate President Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday.
“He should follow what our colleagues did in the Senate. They accepted the suspension as part of the process…” Drilon told reporters.
The Senate leader was apparently referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr, who were suspended by the Senate on orders of the Ombudsman.
The three senators have been detained after being charged with plunder and graft over the pork barrel scam.
Binay, on the other hand, was placed under preventive suspension by the Ombudsman in connection with the allegedly anomalous construction of the Makati City Hall 2 parking building.
Asked if the mayor could still stop the suspension order against him, Drilon said: “Certainly, he has a legal remedy. He can go to the Court of Appeals.” (MNS)