Palace exec: 'Binay defiance is anarchy'

Chief presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol on Sunday said the suspension of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay would not result in sympathy votes for the Genuine Opposition (GO). "I doubt it. How can you sympathize with a person like Binay who would like to defy the court?" Apostol said. Apostol’s reaction came in the light of warnings from administration allies, including reelectionist senator Joker Arroyo, that the suspension order would affect the chances of Team Unity candidates. The interior department has deferred Binay’s suspension order "in the interest of fair play" until after the election period, which ends on June 13. Apostol also said Binay, a lawyer, should obey the law instead of using the issue to advance his political interest. He said the Makati mayor should obtain a temporary restraining order from the Sandiganbayan. He said the suspension is not covered by the election ban because it came from the Sandiganbayan. He said Binay, not Malacañang, is "the one doing a martial law in Makati because he refused to honor the law." "That’s anarchy," he added. - GMANews.TV