A Taguig City court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) requiring the Makati City government to stop obstructing access to and possession of government-owned facilities in the enlisted men’s barrio (EMBO) barangays.
Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Loralie Cruz Datahan issued the TRO on Monday, May 5, enforcing the Supreme Court’s final and executory decision that confirmed Barangays Cembo, South Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pembo (including Rizal), Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside—collectively known as the EMBOs—are under Taguig’s jurisdiction.
In response, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said the city government will seek the reversal of the TRO.
“Makati shall avail of all legal remedies, whether criminal, civil or administrative, to uphold its rights and hold Taguig and its irresponsible leaders accountable,” Certeza said in a statement yesterday.
The Makati official said Taguig has consistently invoked the Supreme Court decision to commit unlawful acts. He reiterated that the Supreme Court decision was about jurisdiction, not ownership over lots.
“Hindi sinabi ng Korte Suprema na ang mga lupa at struktura na binili, tinayo at ginagamit ng Makati ay binibigay sa Taguig,” he said.
“Taguig had two years to improve the health services in the EMBOs. They had two years to build their own health centers. But they did not. Makati expressed willingness to sit down and have a dialog with Taguig, but they refused,” he said.
The Order prohibits the Makati local government and its agents from denying Taguig entry to use the properties and facilities in these barangays. It also prevents them from interfering with Taguig’s exclusive possession and operation of these public properties.
The facilities covered by this order include health centers, covered courts, multi-purpose buildings, day care centers, parks, and other government properties reserved for public use under Proclamation Nos. 518 and 1916.
Despite the Supreme Court’s final ruling in 2022, Makati has maintained control over the public facilities, even shutting down health centers and day care centers.
The court found that Taguig has demonstrated extreme urgency for this application and that it risks suffering grave injustice and irreparable harm without the requested injunctive relief.
In September 2022, the Supreme Court rejected the Motion for Reconsideration filed by the Makati City government assailing the High Court’s 2021 decision that ruled that Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation, consisting of parcels 3 and 4, psu-2031, including the 10 EMBO barangays, was part of the territory of Taguig City.
The High Court also prohibited Makati City from improving or treating the areas involved as part of its territory.
In 2024, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano stated that the closed government properties, including public parks, would be reopened for the “right goals” and that they would be returned to the people for their enjoyment.
Taguig claims ownership of those properties, citing the 2022 Supreme Court decision that states that those falls under their jurisdiction. In response, Makati accused Taguig of being a bully and a land-grabber.
Taguig stated that the “issue of ownership has nothing to do with the issue of regulating the use of public facilities.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Court grants Taguig authority over EMBO public facilities.”