Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay (L) and Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano | PHOTOS: Official Facebook page of Abby Binay and Taguig PIO
MANILA, Philippines鈥揟aguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order Makati City Mayor Abby Binay to explain why she should not be sanctioned for her statement that the territorial dispute between the two cities is up for a 鈥渉earing鈥� despite being declared final in December 2021.
In 2021, the SC ruled that Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation (BMR), where BGC is located, belongs to Taguig and enjoined the City government of Makati to cease exercising jurisdiction over the territory.
The decision attained finality in September 2022, and the case has been enrolled in its entry of judgment.
Under聽court聽rules, a decided case鈥檚 enrollment in the SC鈥檚 Book of Entries of Judgments means the case聽can no longer be appealed or revised.
In a chance interview with the media recently, Binay said they received an order setting the case for a hearing.
Following Binay鈥檚 claim, Cayetano said Taguig鈥檚 legal team went to the SC on June 8, 2022, to inquire about an order or document setting the case for hearing.
But Cayetano said lawyer Warren San Jose of Taguig鈥檚 Legal Office confirmed with the staff of the SC鈥檚 Third Division, which is handling the issue, that no such order or resolution had been issued.
鈥淲hile this claim turned out to be totally false, it appeared to support the social media posts about the proposed reopening of the case,鈥� Mayor Lani said, referring to a post that Binay has spoken to ranking officials of the government for help.
She added that Binay鈥檚 camp also filed a second motion for reconsideration, considered a prohibited pleading after the case has attained finality.
鈥淲hile this claim turned out to be totally false, it appeared to support the social media posts about the proposed reopening of the case,鈥� the Taguig mayor said.
Meanwhile, Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza, in a statement, denied bringing the case to Malaca帽ang.
鈥淭hese social media posts invoked by Taguig have made outrageous and irresponsible allegations against the President, the First Lady and the Court itself. They have been ignored by credible media outlets and for good reason. No right-thinking lawyer would petition the High Court on the basis of these posts. Yet, Taguig, displaying unfathomable wisdom, has chosen to do so. Regardless, if we are asked to comment by the Supreme Court, we will file our comment,鈥� Certeza said.
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