Senate Ordered Arrest of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr.

The powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee has ordered the arrest of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr., for failing to attend the hearings being conducted by its subcommittee on the alleged irregularities involving his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay. Aside from Mayor Binay, five other individuals was also involved in the arrest order.

Blue Ribbon Committee

Although the arrest order is now ready, the implementation is on hold as Senate Pres. Franklin Drilon said that he has not yet received a copy of the order, which should be sign by the Senate President as provided by the rules of the Senate.

Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, announced the decision to arrest Binay, and decided to cite in contempt Mayor Binay, Makati City administrator Eleno Mendoza, former city administrator Marjorie de Veyra, city assistant engineer Line dela Peña, Bernadette Portallano of Omni Security and Eduviges Baloloy, the alleged bagwoman of the Vice President when he was still mayor of Makati.

According to Sen. Guingona, who cited committee rules, pointed out that with the concurrence of at least one member, the chairman can cite in contempt any witness who refuses to appear before its hearings.

According to Section 18 of the rules of the committee, “A contempt of the committee shall be deemed a contempt of the Senate. Such witness may be ordered by the committee to be detained in such place as it may designate under the custody of the sergeant-at-arms until he or she agrees to produce the required documents or to be sworn or to testify or otherwise purge himself or herself of that contempt.”

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