SC tasks Makati courts to assist Taguig in ‘Embo’ cases

HEALTH CONCERNS With the loss of their yellow card benefits, residents in the 10 “Embo” barangays now under Taguig City’s jurisdiction worry about their healthcare needs. — MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

The Supreme Court has designated additional courts to assist Taguig City in the resolution of cases within areas that were previously part of Makati City.

In a recent resolution, the high tribunal assigned the task to seven regional trial courts (RTCs) and four metropolitan trial courts (MeTCs) in Makati in anticipation of the influx of cases following the transfer of jurisdiction over 10 barangays from Makati to Taguig City.

READ: Embo folk to get free teleconsultation after health centers shut

This was after the high court denied with finality in September 2022 Makati City’s omnibus motion asking it to reconsider its December 2021 ruling declaring that the 10 enlisted men’s barrios or “Embo” barangays were “confirmed to be part of the territory of the City of Taguig.”

The resolution was in response to the letter of Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, who requested the simultaneous transfer to her local government of jurisdiction over cases and crimes committed in the affected areas.

According to the high court, effective Jan. 1, the Offices of the Clerk of Court of the RTCs and MeTCs shall require parties that file civil and criminal cases before Taguig City courts to provide their landline or mobile phone numbers and email addresses, which shall form part of the cases’ official records.

“In urgent cases that require immediate action, the Executive Judge of the Taguig City court where the case was filed may act on urgent temporary reliefs prayed for as provided under the Rules of Court before the case is forwarded to the Makati City court to which it has been assigned,” the high court said in a statement.

The Taguig City government, meanwhile, assured residents in the 10 Embo barangays of its continued support, including its plans for medical services, scholarship programs and community engagement initiatives.

Detrimental to health

Earlier this week, Makati announced that Embo residents were no longer entitled to the city’s healthcare benefits under its Yellow Card program. It also said that it was closing its health facilities and lying-in centers in the affected areas as their operating licenses had expired.

The twin moves were criticized by Taguig which called it detrimental to the health of residents. It also insisted that licenses to operate were not necessary for the health facilities unless these were primary health-care centers.

READ: Taguig accuses Makati of ‘deceit and fraud’ in closing Embo health centers

In a statement on Thursday, Taguig City officials said that Embo residents could access for their health needs the Taguig Pateros District Hospital, 31 health centers, seven primary care facilities, three super health centers, a dialysis center, five Animal Bite Treatment Centers, three main laboratories and 29 community-based laboratories.

Medical missions would also be conducted in the 10 barangays on Saturdays, they added, while a satellite pharmacy was set to open in East Rembo.

Residents were further encouraged to avail themselves of teleconsultation services by calling hotline numbers assigned to their areas.