Photo from Taguig PIO
MANILA, Philippines — Makati City government’s allegations that Taguig is “forcibly taking over” public schools in barangays affected by the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the territorial dispute between two cities is “a lie and another desperate attempt to mislead the public.”
The Taguig City government said this on Saturday evening in response to Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza’s statement that city enforcers have attempted to “forcibly take possession” of several public elementary and high school buildings in the affected barangays.
According to Taguig, the Department of Education (DepEd) issued Memorandum Order 2023-735, “transferring the management and supervision of affected schools within these barangays from the DepEd Division of Makati to the Division of Taguig and Pateros,” following the SC ruling.
“Taking their cue from the DepEd Order, the public school officials, teachers, parents, community leaders, and the City of Taguig have been conducting regular meetings in preparation for the Brigada Eskwela and the opening of the school year,” the city government said.
“It is in this context that the DepEd Superintendent of Taguig and Pateros has requested assistance from the City of Taguig, including the deployment of security personnel to ensure the welfare of the students, teachers, and staff, and the peaceful and orderly conduct of the aforesaid activities,” it added.
Taguig likewise instructed its security provider to coordinate with Makati, the school superintendent, and the Philippine National Police, among other relevant agencies.
However, the city government said, Makati allegedly connived with its private security firm and a few allied barangay officials and illegally barricaded the public schools and streets.
“In light of this, we take strong exception to the misleading and patently false statements made by the City Administrator of Makati, including the threats of criminal and administrative cases to be filed,” Taguig said.
“It is clear that these statements serve no other purpose than to sow fear and uncertainty among the residents of these barangays at a time when public officials from both sides of the fence should be coming together to make the transfer as seamless as possible,” it added.
Taguig said it will continue exercising its mandate and jurisdiction over the affected barangays, as it reiterated prioritizing “professionalism, duty to the people, and adherence to the law.”
“We can only pray that this moment of clarity will come to the city officials of Makati sooner rather than later,” the city government said.
Among the schools affected by the boundary dispute are Fort Bonifacio Elementary School; Cembo Elementary School; South Cembo Elementary School; Pitogo Elementary School; East Rembo Elementary School; Rizal Elementary School; Comembo Elementary School; West Rembo Elementary School; Pembo Elementary School; Makati Science High School; Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School; Tibagan High School; Fort Bonifacio High School; and Pitogo High School.
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