Police alert amid tension over Makati mayor's refusal to heed court order

Manila: Tension filled Makati yesterday after anti-riot police deployed near the city's business district amid Mayor Jejomar Binay's refusal to heed an order suspending him and 17 other officials of the city council for alleged graft.

At least 700 anti-riot policemen took up position near the city hall as Binay and hundreds of his supporters holed out inside the premises while they openly defied the order issued by the interior department to leave and allow a government-appointed "caretaker" team to take over the day to day administration of the city.

Reinforcements

At the same time that police were deploying in the Makati City hall, the 15,000-strong police of the National Capital Region have been placed on full alert and reinforcements were called in from other regions.

National police spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao said the alert level was raised in anticipation of a possible outbreak of violence as a result of the stand-off.

Earlier yesterday, at around 7am, the interior department served a 60-day suspension order against Binay, Vice-Mayor Ernesto Mercado and 16 city councillors.

The suspension order was issued by Interior Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar in connection with allegations that Makati officials had been padding the payroll with the names of non-existent employees. Binay remains defiant and denied allegations that he engaged in graft. He said he will not vacate his post because such an action would be illegal.