Supreme Court rules Taguig City owns Fort Bonifacio
Business establishments in Bonifacio Global City that used to deal with Makati will now have to transact business with Taguig City after the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the 729-hectare Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation and some former Makati barangays are under the territorial jurisdiction of Taguig City.
In a two- page resolution, the High Court threw out the Omnibus Motion of Makati seeking to overturn the SC’S 2021 decision before the Court en banc saying that the court en banc is not an appellate court to which decisions or resolutions of a division can be appealed. Aside from this, the High Court said that no further pleadings, motions, letters or other communications shall be entertained as it ordered an entry of judgment.
In ruling against Makati City’s Omnibus Motion with the en banc, the High Court said that the basic issues raised have already been duly
considered and passed upon in the assailed decision of the Court in 2021, which had earlier ruled that Taguig presented documentary evidence that proved their ownership of the disputed Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation.
“We find that Taguig presented evidence that is more convincing and worthier of belief than those proffered by Makati,” the Supreme Court stated in its resolution. And with that, it wrote finis to Makati City’s motions.
It took a while for the territorial dispute between Taguig and Makati to be resolved. The case lasted for three decades. The case was first heard in the Regional Trial Court and then before the Court of Appeals until it reached the Supreme Court, which has decided and recognized that Taguig City is the rightful local government unit that has jurisdiction over the territory in question.
In 1993, Taguig filed a complaint against Makati before the Pasig RTC in connection with their territorial dispute over the areas comprising the Enlisted Men’s Barangays and the entirety of Fort Andres Bonifacio. The City of Makati elevated the matter to the CA and, ultimately, to the High Court. In its 2021 decision, the SC ruled that based on historical, documentary, and testimonial evidence, the contested areas fall within the territorial jurisdiction of Taguig.
And now that the legal battle is over, the residents who are in the middle of the two conflicting LGUS are hoping that their situation will soon be fixed to ensure continuous public service. What is needed is a third party to supervise the smooth transition. For the business establishments, the transfer is deemed easy but for the residents who have been boxed in, the procedure may prove chaotic.
Thus, the appeal of former Makati City Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado for the setting up of a third party to smoothen the transfer is a step in the right direction. This is especially true for the residents who are seen finding it difficult to go over new terrain. For Taguig, it should also ensure that the same benefits that Makati residents get should also be given to them. These include medical aid and other perks.
It is clear that Taguig City now covers Fort Bonifacio including Barangay Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo as well as the Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, Consular area, JUSMAG area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and six other villages adjacent to it.
Thus, to ensure a smooth transition, a third party group— perhaps three persons each from both sides with a retired justice like DBP chair Justice Dante Tinga— be constituted to help ensure that the transition is done in an orderly manner, especially for the affected residents.
“We find that Taguig presented evidence that is more convincing and worthier of belief than those proffered by Makati,” the Supreme Court stated in its resolution. And with that, it wrote finis to Makati City’s motions.