Kid Peña returns as Makati vice mayor after CA decision

Makati Vice Mayor Romulo "Kid" Peña has returned to his post after a directive to follow the Court of Appeals' order halting the suspension of Mayor Junjun Binay, a TV report said Wednesday.

 

According to a live report on News To Go, Peña made the announcement showing the order from the Department of Interior and Local Government, which stated that they needed to follow the Writ of Preliminary Injunction issued by the CA Sixth Division recently. 

 

The order, however, said that his return as vice mayor should not affect the pending result of the petition for certiorari that was previously filed before the Supreme Court.

 

Because of this, Peña said he is still on standby on whatever the SC decision will be, the report added.

 

The vice mayor, who tussled with Binay for the top seat in the city government after the latter's suspension, immediately returned to his office at the Makati City Hall Building on Wednesday, after holding office as acting mayor in the old city hall, the News To Go report said.

 

It added that he wrote to Binay about his return to his position, but the mayor has yet to respond.

 

Both officials stood their ground following the suspension order issued against Binay last March 11. The mayor remained in his office at the new city hall building, while the acting mayor moved to the old city hall, causing confusion among officials on who to follow. 

 

Days after the Ombudsman’s order, the CA Sixth Division granted Mayor Binay’s petition for a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the suspension. 

 

Despite the TRO, the DILG refused to re-install Binay, prompting the latter to file a contempt plea. Peña had also earlier been sworn in as acting mayor.

 

Last week, the CA issued a writ of preliminary injunction against the Ombudsman joint order preventively suspending Mayor Binay, which indefinitely extended the earlier TRO.

 

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court defending Binay’s suspension. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KG, GMA News