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MANILA, Philippines – Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay Jr. shot back at Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas who told police chiefs of Taguig and Makati to maintain the status quo amid the fight for Fort Bonifacio.
“Makati is not bound by Secretary Roxas’ flawed interpretation of the law,” Binay said in a statement on Saturday, September 7.
READ: Taguig, Makati in a ‘banner war’ over Fort
Binay earlier asked the Southern Police District (SPD) to formally turn over jurisdiction of parts of Fort Bonifacio from Taguig to Makati.
Metro Manila Police Chief Marcelo Garbo Jr., however, said that Taguig police will continue to have jurisdiction over the contested area, pending a final court ruling.
On the sidelines of his department’s budget hearing on Friday, Roxas said the police does not exist to be caught in the middle of local government units’ boundary row.
“Ang patakaran hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay status quo which is Taguig (The rule to this day is that we observe status quo),” added Roxas.
‘In what authority?’
But Binay questioned the authority of Roxas to declare status quo. “Only the courts can make such a declaration. He has no authority to determine which LGU has jurisdiction.”
“He should not play politics here. As a government official, he is bound by his obligation to respect the law and the decisions of the court.”
Roxas lost his 2010 vice presidential bid to Binay’s father, Vice President Jejomar Binay. The two may be rivals again in the 2016 presidential elections.
Binay also asked Roxas to seek the court’s clarification and not to “arrogate unto himself the authority of the court.”
Because of Roxas’ statement, Binay said members of Taguig Public Safety Office (POSO) were already emboldened to resume their “thuggish actions” especially in Barangay Southside.
“Should the Taguig POSO again sow chaos in Makati and people are again hurt, Secretary Roxas will have blood on his hands,” he added.
In August, the Court of Appeals (CA) sided with Makati, the country’s financial district, reverting 729.15 hectares of land. Taguig recently filed a motion for reconsideration before the CA. – Jee Y. Geronimo / Rappler.com
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