Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay got emotional on Monday as she expresssed her worries about the welfare of residents in the disputed territory at the city’s second district that is being claimed by Taguig City.

This, despite the recent Supreme Court (SC) decision that denied Makati City government’s request to file a second motion for reconsideration.

In a video posted on the local government’s official Facebook account, My Makati, on Monday, Binay said students, medical patients and senior citizens from the 10 villages with over 300,000 residents will not be able to avail of the Makati City government’s various programs anymore as a result of the SC decision.

“Sila ang aking inaalala. Para akong nawalan ng mga anak, magulang, lolo at lola. Sila ang mga inaaruga at inaalagaan ko sa simula’t simula (I am worried about them. It seems like I lost children, parents, and grandparents. They are the ones who I care for from the start),” Binay said questioning Taguig City government’s capacity to replace the benefits that the Makati City government have been providing them.

She also questioned the ability of Taguig City to provide what the Makati local government unit is extending to the residents of the 10 villages, citing in particular the immediate grant of scholarships to more than 3,500 senior high school graduates who will enter college in the incoming school year.

She said these high school graduates are not qualified for the scholarship since they lack the three-year residency requirement in Taguig as well as being registered voters in he city if they are 18 years old already to avail of the scholarship.

To continue the support and services for the city’s second district residents, she said the Makati City government is planning to seek the help of various national government agencies.

“Hindi kami susuko. Hindi ako susuko. Bilang inyong mayora, ipinapangako ko na hanggang sa dulo, hindi ko kayo iiwan (We will not give up. I will not give up. As your mayor, I promise not to leave you until the end),” Binay vowed.

The SC’s Special Third Division, in a resolution dated June 26, 2023, denied Makati City’s Omnibus Motion asking for permission to file a second appeal.

The case arose from a complaint filed by the City of Taguig against the City of Makati in connection with its territorial dispute over the areas comprising the Enlisted Men’s Barrios and the entirety of Fort Andres Bonifacio. (PNA)