The Supreme Court has directed eleven trial courts in Makati City to assist Taguig City courts in the resolution of cases that are now within the latter’s jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday said it would meet with the mayors of Makati and Taguig over the closure of health facilities in the 10 EMBO barangays.
In a resolution, the SC ordered the designation of more courts in anticipation of the influx of cases in Taguig City as a result of the transfer of 10 barangays from Makati City.
The SC ruled in 2021 that Taguig City owns the 729-hectare Bonifacio Global City Complex and the so-called Inner Fort comprising of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.
As a result, the Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, Consular area, JUSMAG area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and several communities within the complex are now under Taguig City’s jurisdiction.
Designated by the SC as assisting judges are regional trial court (RTC) Judges Rico Sebastian D. Liwanag, Liza Marie R. Picardal Tecson, Karla Regina D. Valera Chua, Jacob M. Montesa II, Karen a. Matti Sy, Veronica B. Tongio Igot, and Redentor Dela Cruz Cardenas.
Also designated were Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Judges Xavier Paolo R. Del Castillo, Nino Delvin E. Embuscado, Maureen L. Rubio Marquez, and Alexius P. Tang.
The designation of assisting judges was recommended by Court Administrator Raul Villanueva and approved by the SC as a full court in a resolution made public on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Villanueva made the recommendation in response to a letter of Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni Cayetano who requested the simultaneous transfer of jurisdiction of cases and crimes committed in areas now within her local government.
The SC said that child and family cases should be raffled between Judges Liwanag and Picardal Tecson; commercial, cybercrime and competition cases should be assigned to Judge Valera Chua; and drugs and regular cases should be raffled among Judges Montesa II, Matti Sy, Tongio Igot, and Cardenas.
Cases within the jurisdiction of the MeTC would be raffled among Judges Del Castillo, Embuscado, Rubio Marquez, and Tang, it said.
Among other directives, the SC said that “in urgent cases that require immediate action, the executive judge of Taguig City court where the case was filed may act on urgent temporary relief prayed for as provided under the Rules of Court, before the case is forwarded to the Makati City court to which it has been assigned.”
“When a judge of the Makati City courts is disqualified or voluntarily inhibits from the case, the records shall be transmitted to the Executive Judge of the Makati City courts who shall then conduct a special raffle among the other courts handling cases from Taguig City courts. The Office of the Clerks of Court of the Taguig City courts shall be furnished a copy of the Order of Inhibition and the calendar of the re-raffled cases,” the SC ordered.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said that he respects each city’s decision, but appeals for public interest to prevail.
“I know both mayors got good hearts. Maybe the technicalities here can be discussed and fixed nicely, because what is important and paramount right now is public service continuous to the people,” Abalos said in a phone interview.
The secretary said that he was discussing available options with Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“We will really spend all our time here. It is important that we finish this as soon as possible,” Abalos said.
The Makati City government announced on social media that following the expiration of licenses to operate (LTO), it had no choice but to close all health centers and lying-in clinics in the 10 Embo barangays, which, following a Supreme Court decision, are now under the jurisdiction of Taguig.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said “every Filipino should get the healthcare they need from the most convenient and affordable high-quality doctor or provider of choice.”
“The DOH will therefore accept any application for a license to operate a health facility from any owner and operator of the same,” the DOH said in a statement.
For 2024, the application deadline has been extended until Jan. 15 to guarantee the public continued access to healthcare.
The DOH said it could “amend and re-issue the licenses under a new name” should changes in ownership and operation of the health facility happen.