The Philippines National Police (PNP) on Friday said it would work on maintaining peace and order amid the ongoing territorial row between Makati and Taguig.
“On the part of the PNP, tayo po ay doon lamang sa maintenance of peace and order na siguraduhin na wala pong mangyayring anumang gulo arising from any tension sa magkabilang partido,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a televised public briefing.
(On the part of the PNP, we would only cover the maintenance of peace and order to ensure that there will not be any kinds of chaos arising from the tension between the two parties.)
Fajardo emphasized that the PNP will not side with any camps and will only implement orders from the Supreme Court (SC).
In 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation, consisting of parcels 3 and 4, psu-2031, was part of the territory of Taguig City.
The high court had also denied Makati’s motion for reconsideration in 2022 and 2023 on the matter.
Due to this, Fajardo said some of the areas under Makati City Police Station will be turned over to the Taguig City Police Station.
For a smooth transition, Fajardo said the PNP is planning that at least half of the Makati police personnel will be maintained in the concerned areas in the meantime to guide Taguig cops who will be designated in their new areas.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay recently called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to “intervene” and assist in the transition.
Binay lamented what she described as a “chaotic transition” due to supposed contradicting orders from the police and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
“Hindi naman siguro kalabisan na mamagitan ang DILG kasi sobrang nagkakagulo ngayon dahil conflicting po yung mga order. Sabi ni police ganito, sabi ni DOJ ganito. Parang it just creates more problems rather than maging tama at maayos yung transition,” she added.
(It is not too much to ask for the DILG to intervene, because it has become chaotic because of conflicting orders from the police and the DOJ. It seems it is creating more problems.)
DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said that the department would continue its discussion with Binay regarding the transition.
Abalos said that DILG agencies actions in connection with the transition would only cover territorial supervision.
He noted that rights or obligations over affected property would depend on the procedures under the law.
“We’re working with the Chiefs of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to revise the areas of responsibility and reporting lines of their affected local offices in light of the decided boundaries.”
“As for specific rights or obligations over affected property, these will be dealt with in accordance with the procedure provided by law. We will also respect any further court orders in this regard.” —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
