NCRPO: Status quo remains in BGC

MANILA, Philippines - The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has declared that until a final court order is issued, the Taguig City police still has jurisdiction over the contested Fort Bonifacio and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) areas, an official said yesterday.

Taguig police chief Senior Superintendent Arthur Felix Asis said he welcomes the NCRPO directive as it would help maintain order.

“At least now everything is clear. I hope there will be no more confusion. Because of the order, police patrols and traffic management in BGC will remain with Taguig,” he said.

The Taguig City government earlier announced that it has filed a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Appeals. The city government said the motion would stay the execution of the CA’s earlier decision awarding jurisdiction over the Fort Bonifacio and BGC areas to Makati City.

A large part of Taguig’s budget comes from taxes earned from the booming business environment of BGC, which in turn is used to fund social services for its constituents.

For its part, the Makati City government yesterday stressed that the filing of a motion for reconsideration by the Taguig City government does not change the fact that the CA’s decision lifting the injunction order issued against Makati in 1994 by the Pasig Regional Trial Court is “immediately executory.”

In a statement, Makati administrator Eleno Mendoza urged the Taguig City government to comply with the CA decision and respect the rule of law.

“With all due respect to the mayor, we suggest that she consult better lawyers. The court has lifted an injunction order, which means Makati is no longer restrained from exercising jurisdiction over the Inner Fort area. Unless restrained by the courts, the lifting of the injunction order is immediately executory,” Mendoza said.