Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado Wednesday warned he would order the arrest of Councilor Jejomar Erwin “Jun-jun” Binay and nine ally councilors if they still fail to attend the next regular council session, that has been causing delay in the deliberations on legislations crucial to the city.

“If they still fail to show up in the next council session, for the third time, I will talk with the city police chief and order their arrests,” Mercado made the statement after more than an hour waiting for Binay and nine councilors during the council meeting.

According to the city council’s internal rules of procedure, Mercado cited that his order of arrest against absentee city councilors is within the ambit of guidelines in the internal rules of procedure and “within the bounds of my authority as presiding officer of Sangguniang Panglungsod.”

The order of arrest is to force the councilors who deliberately failed to attend for the second time and participate in deliberations on legislations at the Sangguniang Panglungsod crucial to city and public interests, Mercado claimed.

The next session will be on February 16.

Mercado alleged that the councilors’ absenteeism led by Councilor Binay, was because of his ouster as majority floor leader of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.

During the last session, some councilors allied with Mercado and succeeded in replacing the mayor’s son as chairman of two key committees of the legislative body.

Councilor Binay, walked out from the council session after he was ousted as chairman of the Committees on Rules and Education as recommended by Mercado, in his capacity as presiding officer of the 18-man Makati City Council.

Mercado said Binay and his group wants to avoid the deliberation and voting on Resolution 2010-001, a measure that calls for the determination of who constitutes the new majority and minority blocks in Makati City Council and declares the positions of majority floor leader and minority floor leader vacant.

Mercado also said he is seeking help from the Department of Interior and Local Government, to resolve the impasse at the Sanggunaing Panglungsod, now hit by differences and problems.