MANILA, Philippines — "Far from over."
This is what Makati City spokesman lawyer Michael Camiña said on Friday following the report that Taguig City won the fight over the ownership of Bonifacio Global City (BGC).
"The city of Makati will exhaust all legal remedies to protect its territory," Camiña said.
In a statement issued on Friday, the lawyer said there is no ruling based on the evidence presented that Makati does not own EMBO barangays, which include barangays Cembo, South Cembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Comembo, Pembo at Pitogo, and the inner Fort barangays.
The Court of Appeals (CA) only dismissed the appeals of Makati City on a mere technicality, Camiña added.
On Wednesday, the CA ruled that Taguig City is the rightful owner of BGC.
The CA granted Taguig’s motion to dismiss filed last August 23, based on Makati City's violation of the forum shopping rule, or pursuing simultaneous remedies in different venues.
"[It] cannot but draw the conclusion that Makati's simultaneous availment of the aforementioned reliefs is not a by-product of mere thoughtlessness or negligence but willful and deliberate act of forum shopping [which] has sowed conflicts between the courts," the resolution read.
READ: Court of Appeals: BGC belongs to Taguig
Makati City filed a motion for reconsideration (MR) with the Pasig Regional Trial Court following its earlier petition for annulment of judgment with the CA. The MR was then denied, which resulted to the filing of an appeal with the CA, where its petition for annulment of judgment was already pending.
Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano welcomed the decision and even expressed desire to work with the government of Makati City.
"People need our services in planning, infrastructure, health and education programs, as well as anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. We can only solve these problems if we work together," the Taguig mayor said.
The two highly urbanized cities have been engaged in a long-running court battle for control over the almost 730-hectare territory, which was once part of a vast military complex known as Fort Bonifacio.