The Makati City government on Friday, March 1, slammed Taguig City for its attempt to "forcibly" enter the Makati Park and Garden located in Barangay West Rembo.
(Photos from Makati City LGU)
According to initial reports, members of Taguig Traffic Management Office (TMO) tried to "forcibly" enter the park. However, the park's security guards and personnel of the Makati Public Safety Department (PSD) barred them.
“Taguig has once again proven that it is bent on grabbing property. Gusto nilang mangamkam ng lupa na hindi kanila. Gusto nilang magpasasa sa mga ipinundar ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Makati gamit ang buwis ng mamamayan ng Makati (They want to seize properties they do not own. They want to indulge themselves in the investments made by the city government of Makati that were funded by the taxes of the citizens of Makati)," the Makati City government said in a statement.
It urged Taguig City officials to "pay more attention to the basic needs of their constituents, pointing out the persistent clamor from EMBO residents complaining about insufficient health services and benefits, especially for the sick and elderly."
“If only Taguig would display the same zeal in improving their services to their constituents. Reklamo ng mga taga EMBO na kulang-kulang ang health services at benefits at hindi maayos ang sistema ng pagtulong sa mga may sakit at senior citizens. Ito dapat ang unahin nila. Unahin ang mamamayan, hindi ang pangangamkam (EMBO residents are complaining about inadequate health services and benefits and the poor system of providing assistance to the sick and senior citizens. This should be their priority. The citizens’ welfare should come first, not land-grabbing)," the local government unit (LGU) explained.
In October last year, Makati City filed an Urgent Motion before Branch 153 of the Regional Trial Court of Taguig to issue a status quo order against Taguig City, citing a number of attempts made by the latter to forcibly take possession of Makati-owned facilities in the 10 EMBO barangays.
These included attempts to enter the premises of a housing project owned by Makati and seize several school buildings and health centers in the affected barangays.