The Taguig City government branded as harassment the filing by the Makati City government of graft charges against its treasurer and two other employees.
“This is another baseless complaint filed by Makati, intended only to harass Taguig officials,” the Taguig City government said in a statement issued on April 1.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano (left) and Makati Mayor Abby Binay (Photos from Cayetano and the Makati City government's Facebook accounts)
The Makati City government filed graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against Taguig Treasurer Voltaire Enriquez, and employees Jessie Garcia and Erika Macaligtas for the alleged delay in the release of tax clearance documents for three parcels of land bought by the Makati City government from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) amounting to P146,503,273.
According to the Taguig City government, “The cases filed against the officials and employees of Taguig will not detract them from giving the EMBO residents transformative programs that they deserve.”
Makati and Taguig have been at odds since last year after a Supreme Court decision became final on the transfer of 10 EMBO (enlisted men’s barrio) to Taguig.
The two local governments have been fighting over the ownership of government properties built by Makati in EMBO barangays.
In March, the Makati City government filed criminal cases against Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano and others related to the closure of the disputed Makati Park and Garden located in EMBO barangays.
The Taguig City government closed the park on March 3, saying it operated without permits.
After the closure of the park, four employees of the Makati City government filed complaints of illegal detention and grave coercion against Cayetano, Taguig Administrator Jose Luis Montales, Business Permits and Licensing Office head Maria Theresa Veloso, Traffic Management Office (TMO) head Danny Cañaveral, and several John Does who introduced themselves as personnel of the Taguig City government.
A complainant filed a case against Cayetano for grave coercion after being prevented by Taguig employees from reporting to work at the Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA), which is adjacent to the park.