MANILA — Residents of the Embo — Enlisted Men's Barrio — barangays on Wednesday urged the local governments of Taguig and Makati to resolve their land dispute calmly amid the implementation of a temproary restraining order on the transfer of some facilities.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News, “Jane,” not her real name, said a window roll-up at a health center in Barangay Comembo was destroyed when Taguig authorities opened the facility on Tuesday.

Taguig court orders Makati local gov’t to turn over EMBO facilities

Jane was disappointed that tensions continued to flare between two sides, and hoped the two cities would be able to resolve the land dispute in a calm manner.

“Sana wala nang magkakasakitan, sana wala nang masisira na facilities ng EMBO kasi sayang din naman,” she said.

(I hope no more people get hurt. I hope no more facilities in the EMBOs get damaged because it's a waste)

This was also the case for “Sara,” who said she and her family moved to Barangay Cembo years ago due to the health benefits in Makati.

“Sobrang kinokondena namin ng mga EMBO yung nangyari kahapon… Kapag nagkakasakit, ayan humihingi na kami ng tulong pinansyal para sa hospital at sa mga gamot na hindi dati nararanasan ng mga taga-EMBO,” Sara said.

(We strognly condemn what happened yesterday. When someone gets sick, we now have to ask for financial assistance to go to the hospital and to get medicine. EMBO residents used to not have to do that)

She said the dispute has put EMBO residents' health at risk.

nin ang mga health ng mga taga-EMBO lalo na yung matatanda,” she added.

For their part, “Boss” questioned the timing of the court order in Taguig, since it was issued days before the elections.

“Ayaw namin bumalik sa Makati talaga eh, gusto namin sa Taguig. Sabihin nating two years na. Wala pa silang nagagawa, hindi pa sila kumpleto tapos ganyan ang ginawa nila,” they said.

(We really don't want to be part of Makati anymore. We want to be part of Taguig. Let's say it has already been two years, they still don't have complete services, and this is what they do)

23 Makati barangays gain from city's loss of Embo areas

The city government of Taguig on Tuesday night announced it would open the health centers in Embo barangays starting this Wednesday – from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday.

This comes after the Taguig Regional Trial Court directed the Makati local government to prohibit its officials, personnel, agents, and any person, authority on its behalf from denying access to and use of the subject EMBO properties.

This includes health centers, covered courts, multi-purpose buildings, day care centers, parks, and other government properties for public use.

MAKATI VS TAGUIG

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano hailed the court decision, saying it was time that the public would be able to use these government facilities.

“Hindi ako ang gagamit ng pasilidad, kundi ang mga sanggol, mga buntis, mga senior citizens, mga persons with disabilities, mga kabataan at mga sektor na dapat nating pinagsisilbihan,” Cayetano said in a video statement.

(I will not be the one using the facilities, but the babies, pregnant women, PWDs, the youth, and other sectors that we need to serve)

Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza earlier said the development was “unfortunate” and just showed that the Taguig leadership “does not care about the law” and the welfare of EMBO residents.

Makati Mayor Abby Binay also questioned the timing of the court order in a statement.

“Why did you wait a week before the elections to file a case and get a TRO and get possession of the health centers?,” she said.

She said Taguig should have done that as early as January 2024.

Patrol ng Pilipino: Bakit kinatigan ng Korte Suprema ang Taguig sa isyu ng mga EMBO?

For decades, Taguig City and Makati City have been at odds over the ownership of the disputed properties, as well as the renowned financial district BGC, also known as Fort Bonifacio or The Fort.

Following battles in lower courts which started in 1993, the Supreme Court in December 2021 ruled that the area's territorial jurisdiction falls under Taguig City. The Makati city government then filed an omnibus motion for reconsideration before the SC.

But in a resolution in September 2022 and made public in April 2023, the High Court's Special Third Division denied with finality Makati City's motion for reconsideration, saying that the basic issues it raised had been resolved and "duly considered" by the court in its earlier decision.