Makati to file contempt raps vs NCRPO over BGC

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government will file contempt charges against officials of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) led by its director, Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr., over their alleged refusal to comply with the Court of Appeals (CA) decision transferring the jurisdiction of the contested Fort Bonifacio and Bonifacio Global City (BGC) areas to the Makati police.

“We will bring them to court. The NCRPO is duty-bound to enforce the CA decision. Their refusal to do so can be seen as open defiance of the court,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said yesterday.

“The decision is clear. The injunction order has been lifted. Makati can now exercise its jurisdiction over the disputed areas. This is something that the law enforcers know and there should be no second guessing here,” Binay added.

NCRPO deputy director for administration Chief Superintendent Pat Hernandez reportedly said that Fort Bonifacio and BGC would remain under the control of the Taguig City police.

This was reportedly confirmed by NCRPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Robert Domingo, who said they would observe the status quo pending an order from higher authorities.

Earlier, Makati officials called on Taguig to respect the rule of law and comply with the CA decision.

Eleno Mendoza, Makati City administrator, advised Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano to consult good lawyers, saying, “unless restrained by the court, the lifting of the injunction order is immediately executory.”

For her part, Cayetano said the motion for reconsideration (MR) they filed last week with the CA suspended the execution of the appellate court’s July 30 decision.

She also appealed to Makati to respect the rule of law and wait for a final resolution of the case before undertaking any action that would sow confusion and tension in the disputed territory.

“With the filing of MR, we would like to clarify that the status quo prevails in Fort Bonifacio. Taguig will continue to exercise jurisdiction over Fort Bonifacio. I assure our constituents in the area, including the business community in the BGC, that the local government is on top of the situation,” Cayetano said.

Tension rises anew in BGC

Tension continued to rise between the cities of Makati and Taguig yesterday after Makati policemen arrested a member of Taguig City’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) for allegedly carrying an unlicensed gun along Mckinley Road in Barangay Forbes Park.

According to Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban, a group of men was installing pro-Makati tarpaulins along Mckinley Road at around 11 a.m. when the POSO member appeared and grabbed one of the banners.

During the commotion, Lukban said the man grabbed a cell phone from someone in the crowd who was taking a video clip of him before fleeing.

The Makati police officers failed to arrest the man. But they nabbed another POSO member, who was carrying an unlicensed gun.

Lukban said the man with the gun was turned over to the custody of the Taguig police.

“Out of respect, we allowed the Taguig police to take custody of the suspect for inquest, with the Makati police serving as the complainant in the case,” he added.

Kim Pautin, Taguig POSO officer-in-charge, slammed the Makati police for making the arrest in Taguig’s territory.