Binay asks SPD: Turn over BGC to Makati cops

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay yesterday urged the Southern Police District (SPD) to turn over police jurisdiction on Bonifacio Global City (BGC) and the Fort Bonifacio barangays from the Taguig police to the Makati police.

Binay, the guest of honor at the SPD’s celebration yesterday of the 112th anniversary of police service in the country, said Makati “is determined to uphold its jurisdiction over these areas.”

He said he expects SPD director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte “to issue the necessary directives to formalize the turnover… in compliance with the lawful order of the Court of Appeals (CA).”

Binay said the Makati City government has already informed the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of its intention to immediately assume jurisdiction over the 729-hectare portion of Fort Bonifacio.

“As agents of the law, I am sure you are well aware of the fact that an injunction order restrains a party from performing a certain act. When the Pasig regional trial court issued an injunction in 1994, it stopped Makati from exercising jurisdiction over these areas. With the (CA) lifting the injunction, Makati can now resume exercising its rightful jurisdiction. It cannot get any simpler than that,” he said.

Binay also said he was glad that during the SPD’s last command conference, the SPD legal department agreed with Makati, as “there can be no other way of interpreting the decision” of the CA.

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano had earlier called on Binay to temper his statements on the transfer of the contested land to his jurisdiction, saying the recent CA ruling is not yet final.

“He should not be like that. He knows that there is a process to be followed. But if he would insist, he would be violating the law,” she said.

Last month, the CA declared as constitutional Presidential Proclamation No. 2475 in 1986 and Proclamation No. 518 in 1990 declaring the 729-hectare Fort Bonifacio within the jurisdiction of Makati.

The CA reversed a 2008 decision of the Pasig court declaring the Inner Fort barangays, including the high-end BGC, within the jurisdiction of Taguig.

The CA lifted the Pasig court’s 1994 preliminary injunction in favor of Taguig’s claim.

The CA said the presidential proclamations did not alter boundaries but confirmed that Fort Bonifacio is under the jurisdiction of Makati.