The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has formally listed the 10 villages originally known as “EMBO” barangays in the City of Makati to Taguig City.

EMBO or the “Enlisted Men’s Barrio” refer to Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Remo, Pitogo, Rizal, Northside and Southside.

In Resolution 24-0317 unanimously approved by the Comelec en banc, the body underlined the absence of a law creating a congressional district to accommodate the voters of the 10 villages.

“With only less than a year before the 2025 NLE and still sans congressional enactment reapportioning the legislative districts in the affected cities of Taguig and Makati, this Commission was pressed to provide its view and/or recommendation on what system to adopt to ensure that the registered voters in the areas concerned shall not be disenfranchised,” part of the resolution stated.

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“The Commission, after due deliberation, Resolved as it is hereby Resolves to Note/Adopt the comment/recommendation of the Law Department on the election of city officials by the registered voters if the ten (10) Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) Barangays, Taguig City, for the upcoming 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections. The Law Department submits that the qualified voters of the Barangays adjudicated to Taguig City, per the Makati-Taguig case, the 10 EMBO Barangays included, may vote for Taguig City Mayor, Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panglungsod Members,” it added.

Those who signed the resolution are Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia and Commissioners Socorro Inting, Aimee Ferolino, Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda, Jr, Marlon Casquejo, Rey Bulay and Nelson Celis.

Interviewed Friday, Garca said that they are still waiting for a resolution to be approved by the Taguig City Council if EMBO voters can also vote for councilors.

“Na-inform kami ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Taguig na meron na silang ipapasang ordinansa sa pagdadagdag ng mga konsehal dahil sa mga nadagdag na barangays. Para may representasyon yung dagdag na barangays sa mismong konseho,” Garcia said.

(We were informed by the Taguig City Council that they will pass an ordinance increasing the number of councilors so the additional barangays will also be represented)

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“Parang ang mangyayari, ang gusto ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Taguig, magdadagdag ng tigda-dalawa na konsehal sa bawat distrito. And therefore, hahatiin nila yung sampung barangay, parang idi-distribute nila sa dalawang distrito. Para lang sa tinatawag na Council District, pero hind yung tinatawag na legislative district,” he added.

(What will happen is that the Taguig City Council will add two councilor for the two districts which they will call as Council District and not legislative dstrict)

The Comelec has no information yet regarding the possible creation of a new Taguig district by Congress. 

Garcia initially disclosed the Comelec decision early this week, along with a clarification that the three remaining barangays in Makati representing the city’ second district, can still vote as dictated by law in all the positions at stake, even if the district has fewer voters, Garcia said.

“Nage-exist pa rin po ang kanilang distrito sapagkat hindi po nila pwedeng i-abolish nila. Kahit tatlong barangays na lang ang natitira, ay intact pa rin, nandyan pa rin yung second district ng Makati. Sapagkat ang Comelec po ay walang karapatang mag-abolish ng isang distrito,” Garcia said.

(Their district continues to exist and they cannot be abolished, even if they only have three barangays. The Comelec has no power to abolish a district.)

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The law states that a district can be created by Congress if an area has at least 250,000 voters. Congress also has the power abolish a district.

Garcia said the Comelec decided to make such ruling to give time to concerned parties to question the legality of their decision before the proper court or for Congress to act on the matter.

An eventual ruling will also give the Comelec the time to react accordingly regarding such matter, he said.

“Kung bigla pong magkakaroon ng batas na magsasabing i-abolish ang second district of Makati at magke-create ng pangatlong distrito sa Taguig, madali naman po kaming maggawa ng panibagong ballot face para po dyan,” he said.

(If the law states that the second district of Makati should be abolished and a third district in Taguig be created, we can easily create another ballot face.)