GOVERNMENT lawyers are pressing for the suspension of an incumbent Makati City councilor facing a suit related to the graft case that involved the wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

In a four-page motion, the Office of the Ombudsman asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend Salvador Pangilinan as a member of the city council of Makati as his trial is ongoing.

“Considering the nature of the indictment and validity of the criminal information against accused and invoking the mandate of the law and jurisprudence, suspension of the accused is mandatory under the premises,” the motion read.

Pangilinan stands charged in the case of former Makati City mayor Elenita Binay for allegedly bypassing the bidding procedure to favor Office Gallery International, Inc. some P72 million for the new furnishings of Makati City Hall.