FOUR Makati City employees who were allegedly trapped and harassed at the Makati Park and Garden located in an EMBO village last weekend filed charges against Taguig City Mayor Maria Laarni “Lani” L. Cayetano and her other officers on Tuesday.
A statement from the Makati City Information and Community Relations Department said three of the employees filed illegal detention and grave coercion charges against the mayor and her personnel, claiming they were detained against their will in the vicinity of the park last March 1-3.
Salvador C. Palisa, a maintenance employee assigned to the Makati Aqua Sports Arena (MASA), filed a fourth complaint of grave coercion against the same officials for allegedly being prevented to do his job by Taguig personnel.
These incidents happened amid the feud between the two cities over jurisdiction of 10 EMBO villages. The Taguig City government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
In September 2022, the Supreme Court ruled it was illegal for Makati to have occupied the 10 EMBO villages for 30 years.
However, the turnover of administration and management of public services and offices established by Makati that are now ruled as part of the territory of Taguig has been a gruelling tug-of-war.
The ten villages are Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana
