Comelec: ‘Embo’ voters cannot elect House rep

MANILA, Philippines — More than 200 residents of 10 enlisted men’s barrio or “embo” barangays now under the jurisdiction of Taguig cannot vote for their congressional representative in the May 2025 midterm elections.

At a press briefing yesterday, Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia announced the Comelec’s decision disallowing the “embo” voters from electing their representative in Congress.

Garcia, however, clarified that the residents would be able to vote for national and local positions such as senator, mayor, vice mayor and members of the city council.

The 10 affected barangays are Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside, which were previously under the jurisdiction of Makati.

Garcia explained that these barangays do not belong to either of the two congressional districts of Taguig or the second district of Makati.

“There is no law stating that these villages belong to any of Taguig’s two congressional districts. We cannot include these barangays in either districts of Taguig because the Comelec does not have such mandate,” Garcia pointed out.

With the transfer of these barangays to Taguig’s jurisdiction, Garcia said the second district of Makati is composed of only three villages – Guadalupe Viejo, Guadalupe Nuevo and Pinagkaisahan.

The poll body said there would be no changes for voters in Makati’s second district.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that Taguig has jurisdiction over Fort Bonifacio and the 10 “embo” barangays.