Taguig calls for ‘status quo’ as Makati plans BGC takeover

Taguig Mayor Laarni Cayetano. Photo from https://www.congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano took Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. to task Wednesday for issuing “irresponsible” statements by announcing the Makati government was preparing for a “smooth transition” leading to its takeover of Bonifacio Global City following a court ruling the area and other parts of Taguig actually belonged to Makati.

“It was unfortunate and irresponsible. How could you issue statements that are still so far off? Until now, the status quo is still in effect,” Cayetano said of Binay at a press conference at the Bonifacio Global City on  Wednesday morning that was also attended by Taguig councilors and congressmen.

Cayetano was reacting to a press conference held by Binay the previous day  in which Binay said that in as early as two weeks “you will see the presence of Makati” in areas bordering the two cities that had been disputed for nearly two decades.

The disputed areas cover the so-called “EMBO” barangays—Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo and Pitogo, and Inner Fort barangays Post Proper Northside and Southside—which comprise Taguig’s glitzy central business district, the Bonifacio Global City or BGC.

The Court of Appeals, in a 37-page decision promulgated last July 30, ruled that the disputed areas were within the territorial jurisdiction of Makati, and ordered Taguig to “immediately cease and desist from exercising jurisdiction within the disputed area and return the same to Makati.”

A day after the decision was reported, Binay said his administration was already preparing for a “smooth transition.”

“We will make our presence felt in the area. We will place our personnel there, then start implementing our laws,” he said, adding that he had been meeting with the Makati assessor, engineer, administrator, and some businessmen operating in the two cities.

But Cayetano stood her ground, insisting that “the decision is not yet final and executory.”

“We still have legal remedies. We will fight for this. Legally, historically and factually, Fort Bonifacio is part of Taguig,” Cayetano said. “If they [try to] take control… we will exert our jurisdiction.”

“We just want the business community to know that the status quo is still in effect. Stay calm. Transactions will still be with Taguig,” Cayetano said.

Lino Cayetano, a former Fort Bonifacio chairman and now congressional representative of Taguig’s second district, posed this question to Binay:  “What’s the rush?”

“It took 18 years before we reached this decision. In those 18 years, the claim of Taguig has been reaffirmed again and again. In 2011, the regional trial court said the EMBO barangays are part of Taguig… [we] made no move to exert jurisdiction over these areas, out of respect and because the communities would be disrupted,” the congressman said.

Binay had said that more than the additional revenues or voter population Makati stood to gain from the Court of Appeals ruling, “it is incumbent upon [Makati] to ensure basic services are delivered in that area” because “it has been neglected for 20 years.”

“Let’s not forget, we focus too much on BGC, but [Barangays Northside and Southside] still exercise their right of suffrage under the city of Makati. There have been lots of development in the Inner Fort but the periphery was neglected,” the mayor said, adding Makati was prevented by a preliminary injunction in 1994 from exercising jurisdiction over the area.

The Court of Appeals ruling in effect lifted the injunction.

Pressed by reporters on the issue of revenues, however, Binay said: “We are reserving a separate action to claim what was lost in the span of 20 years. It was an injustice done to Makati, and revenues lost must be reclaimed by the city from Taguig.”

“From 1993 to now, they have collected taxes rightfully for Makati. We will get what we should have gotten,” he said, adding that at this point in the year, Makati would only be able to collect business taxes for the third and fourth quarter “unless the court tells us we cannot yet get taxes from area.”

Binay said that losing Fort Bonifacio may affect Taguig’s status as a city “because they will have reduced revenue and land area, which are some of the bases to determine cityhood.”

While Cayetano admitted that a “big portion” of the funds for the city’s education, health care and infrastructure  came from revenues Fort Bonifacio, she expressed “hurt” over Binay’s statements.

“They belittle us too much. I am saddened by these statements because what satisfaction will they get?” Cayetano said. “Over the years, businesses and citizens have been flocking to Taguig. They transfer here because they see that living and doing business here is better than in other areas. You could ask our businesses: Taguig has the lowest tax rate.  We, public servants, worked hard on this.”

“I appeal for Mayor Binay to be responsible and fair in his statements. You and all lawyers know the legal process would take time. Taguig can still file a motion for reconsideration. And if need be, we can push this until the Supreme Court. So why confuse the businessmen and residents of Fort Bonifacio?” Cayetano added.