Elderly Philippine vice-president 'roughed up Manila police in brawl that left several injured'
Cops tried to serve order suspending Binay's son from post as mayor of Makati financial district
Elderly Philippine Vice-President Jejomar Binay was accused by Manila police of roughing up officers during a brawl that left several people hurt.
The fracas broke out after police tried to serve a special prosecutor's order suspending the vice-president's son from his post as mayor of the Makati financial district of the city.
The suspension was ordered over a corruption case also allegedly involving his father.
"I thought I was face-to-face with a vice-president who supported the police, but it was the opposite. He mocked my being a policeman," Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias said.
"I saluted him but he didn't return it right away. He pointed at my nameplate and said I was there only to drag him out of city hall," Jamias said.
Police leaders said they were studying possible criminal charges against the elder Binay and his bodyguards.
The vice-president, 73, has denied he laid a hand on any police officer during the Monday night confrontation in Makati. Television footage showed Binay, who plans to run for president in next year's elections, angrily jabbing his forefinger at Jamias. A second officer, Chief Inspector Gideon Ines, accused the elder Binay of grabbing him by the collar.
The younger Binay was ordered suspended for six months on Monday by the Ombudsman, who is investigating both father and son over allegations they took kickbacks.
Binay's son, Jejomar Erwin Binay, rejected the ruling as politically motivated and barricaded himself inside city hall.
