SC affirms Taguig jurisdiction over BGC

The Supreme Court has affirmed with finality a December 2021 decision that ruled that the disputed Bonifacio Global City belongs to Taguig City.

In a two-page notice dated September 2022, the SC Special Third Division denied the Makati City government's motion for reconsideration assailing the SC's December 1, 2021 decision that ruled in favor of Taguig.

"[T]he Court resolves to deny the motion with finality, the basic issues raised therein having been duly considered and passed upon by the Court in the aforesaid decision," the SC said.

The high court also denied the Makati government's motion to refer the instant case to the Supreme Court En Banc.

In its 2021 decision, 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.

It also enjoined the Makati City government to cease from "exercising jurisdiction over, making improvements on, or otherwise treating as part of its territory, parcels 3 and 4, psu-2031, comprising Fort Bonifacio."

For its part, Taguig City welcomed the decision.

"The end of this legal dispute marks the beginning of a new chapter for Taguig and its people. Our victory in the courts of law is not merely a vindication of our rights," the Tagiug City government said in a statement.

"It is equally a command for us to make good use of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to expand our brand of committed public service to new constituents. We welcome our new Taguigeños with this solemn promise."

Meanwhile, Supreme Court spokesperson Brian Hosaka said the SC did not disseminate the resolution to the media as they were not furnished a copy.

"The SCPIO has not disseminated this to the media since we have not yet been furnished a copy of the said Resolution dated 28 September 2022," he said in a message to reporters. —KBK, GMA Integrated News