A TAGUIG City court has issued an order directing the Makati City Government to cease and desist from interfering in the affairs of the Enlisted Men's Barrio (Embo) barangays, which were previously under its jurisdiction.
The Regional Trial Court of Taguig issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) dated May 5, reinforcing the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that affirmed Barangays Cembo, South Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pembo (including Rizal), Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside are part of the territorial jurisdiction of Taguig.
The order also allows the reopening of long-inaccessible public facilities, such as health centers, daycare centers, parks, covered courts, and multi-purpose buildings, which have previously been used to provide essential services to thousands of residents.
“The court finds the plaintiff has sufficiently established extreme urgency for the present application and that it stands to suffer grave injustice and irreparable injury without the injunctive relief prayed for,” the court said.
Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano welcomed the court’s ruling and reiterated the city’s intention to ensure that these public facilities remain open and fully operational for all Embo residents.
“Malaking tagumpay ito para sa mga taga-Embo. Ngayong nasa Taguig na ang pamamahala ng lahat ng pasilidad na ito, titiyakin nating bukas at ganap na mapapakinabangan ito ng mga taga-Embo—hindi isasara, hindi haharangan, kundi pagbubuksan para sa serbisyong noon pa man ay dapat nilang napapakinabangan,” Cayetano said in a press conference.
(This is a major victory for the residents of Embo. Now that the management of all these facilities is under Taguig, we will ensure that they remain open and fully accessible to the people of Embo — not closed, not blocked, but opened for the services they should have long been benefiting from.)
Rosalinda Ines, a mother from Barangay Rizal, said she is happy and relieved over the reopening of their health center.
“Siyempre, sobrang saya, kasi ang lapit na, e. Hindi na tulad dati na kailangan pang mag-us-usan, malayo, tapos kung maselan ka pa sa biyahe, mahirap. Ngayon, walking distance na lang—nasa tapat lang ng bahay namin,” Ines said.
(Of course, I'm really happy because it's so close now. It's not like before when we had to go far, squeezing into crowded rides, and if you're sensitive to travel, it was tough. Now, it's just walking distance—right in front of our house.)
Cayetano said the reopening of the multi-purpose complex will also benefit the youth, especially since it is summer break.
The mayor assured that additional services will be rolled out in the facilities across the Embo barangays in the coming days, as part of the city's integration of the area into its health, education, and social welfare programs.
“Preparations are in full swing, with equipment and furnishings currently being deployed across the reopened facilities to ensure they become fully functional and ready for public use as soon as possible,” she said.
Reason for cancellation?
Cayetano denied the claim of the Makati government that the ruling was the reason for the cancellation of the Makati City Subway Project.
"Gusto ko lang linawin—hindi kailanman nakipag-ugnayan sa amin ang Makati tungkol sa proyektong ito. Hindi bago magdesisyon ang Korte, at lalong hindi pagkatapos. Kaya ang pagsisi sa Taguig ay hindi lamang mali, kundi malayo sa katotohanan," Cayateno said.
(I just want to clarify—Makati never coordinated with us regarding this project. Not before the Court made its decision, and certainly not after. So blaming Taguig is not only wrong, it is far from the truth.)
Cayetano also took exception to accusations made by Makati Mayor Abby Binay, who claimed that Taguig was the “uncontrollable variable” that disrupted their plan.
"Tayo na naman ang itinuro. Pero tanungin natin: kami ba ang pumasok sa multi-bilyong proyekto kahit may kasong nakabinbin? Kami ba ang gumastos para sa mga istasyon na nakatayo sa lupang alam nilang hindi pa tiyak kung kanila?" Cayetano said.
(Once again, we’re the ones being blamed. But let’s ask: Were we the ones who pushed through with a multi-billion project despite a pending case? Were we the ones who spent for facilities built on land they knew wasn’t definitively theirs?)
"Masakit mang tanggapin, pero si Mayor Abby Binay ang natalo sa pinakamalaking kaso sa kasaysayan ng Makati. Mahigit kalahati ng lungsod ang nawala—kasama ang mga barangay, pasilidad, at higit sa lahat, ang mga mamamayan. Hindi Taguig ang sumira sa subway project—ang kawalan ng malinaw na plano at legal na batayan ang tunay na dahilan," she added.
(As painful as it is to accept, it was Mayor Abby Binay who lost the biggest case in Makati's history. More than half of the city was lost—including barangays, facilities, and most importantly, its people. It wasn’t Taguig that derailed the subway project—it was the lack of a clear plan and legal foundation that was the real cause.)
Cayetano also said in Taguig, all projects are done legally and properly with consultation with the concerned sectors to avoid any trouble later on.
Cayetano said that she is open to working with anyone and any group for any transportation program that will ease the plight of our commuters.
"Hindi po ito dahil sa pulitika, kundi tunay na pagmamalasakit para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. I'm ready to work for the people of Taguig and our commuters from all over Metro Manila," Cayetano added.
(This is not about politics, but genuine concern for the welfare of our people. I'm ready to work for the residents of Taguig and for our commuters from across Metro Manila.) (TPM/SunStar Philippines)