The Enlisted Men's Barrio, commonly known as Embo (stylized in all caps), refers to the collective term for ten barangays in Taguig, Philippines.[3][4][5] It is made up of barangays Cembo, Comembo, East Rembo, Pembo, Pitogo, Rizal, South Cembo and West Rembo, as well as the two Inner Fort barangays: Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside. The barangays were originally established to house military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Enlisted Men's Barrio
Embo and Bonifacio Global City
Etymology: Enlisted Men's Barrio
Map showing the Embo area. Faded portions of the Post Proper barangays overlap the territory already controlled by barangays Fort Bonifacio, Pinagsama, Ususan, and Western Bicutan.
Map showing the Embo area. Faded portions of the Post Proper barangays overlap the territory already controlled by barangays Fort Bonifacio, Pinagsama, Ususan, and Western Bicutan.
CountryPhilippines
RegionNational Capital Region
CityTaguig
First military settlement (Cembo)1949
Transfer of control to Makati (de facto)January 7, 1986
Transfer of control to Taguig (de jure)April 3, 2023
Area
 • Total8.838 km2 (3.412 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total375,016
Divisions
 • Barangays
10
Time zoneUTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code
1640–1649[2]
1635 (Bonifacio Global City)
Area code2

The area was formerly disputed between the cities of Makati and Taguig,[6] as well as the municipality of Pateros.[7] Proclamation No. 2475 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos transferred the jurisdiction of Fort Bonifacio and the Embo barangays to Makati, which was contested by Taguig because it altered Taguig's boundaries without the required plebiscite, which was unconstitutional. From 1986 to 2023, the barangays were under the jurisdiction of Makati. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Taguig and as of April 2023, territorial jurisdiction of the barangays were transferred from Makati to Taguig.[8][9]

Etymology

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The collective for the Embo barangays were derived from enlisted men's barrios (EMBOs), as the area is originally a settlement for enlisted men serving in the Armed Forces of the Philippines.[10][11][12]

History

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Early history

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Fort William McKinley and surrounding areas, including the present-day Embo barangays, circa 1930s

Part of the Embo area was formerly known as Mamancat, Masilang, San Nicolas,[13] and Malapadnabato,[14] respectively, all originally part of Pateros.[15] Mamancat was known as a trading hub alongside its more developed neighbor, Aguho (now Barangay Agujo, Pateros) during the Spanish colonial era.[16] San Nicolas, which comprises the present-day western portion of West Rembo, is the location of the Ermita de San Nicolas de Tolentino that was established in 1686 and is believed to be first settled by Chinese traders.[17] Malapadnabato used to be linked to Pasig via an old bridge,[18] while Masilang comprises the present-day South Cembo.[15] The two areas were later placed under the jurisdiction of San Pedro Macati (modern-day Makati).[19]

Establishment of EMBO settlements

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At the end of the Philippine–American War, the United States colonial administration established the Fort William McKinley at the center of present-day Metro Manila. During World War II, the military reservation would be used as the headquarters of the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) until the Imperial Japanese military took over it. After the conclusion of the war, the Philippines would be granted full independence by the United States in 1946 but retained control over its military bases.[11]

Fort McKinley would only be turned over to the Philippine government in 1949. The reservation was renamed as Fort Bonifacio and the government made plans to create settlements for military personnel within the vicinity of the installation.[11]

Cembo would be the first settlements among the EMBO barangays to be established, when the first batch of enlisted servicemen from the Infantry Group, Philippine Ground Force from Floridablanca, Pampanga arriving in 1949 to settle in the area.[20] In 1954, East Rembo was established as settlements for Fort Bonifacio-based enlisted men serving in the armed forces upon the authorization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the office of General Alfonso Arellano, the Commanding General of Fort Bonifacio.[21]

In 1956, two more settlements would be authorized:[11] West Rembo and Pitogo.[17][22] In 1957, Comembo, in the site formerly known as Mamancat, would be settled by personnel from the Combat Engineering Group of the Philippine Army.[16] In the same year, the area was reserved for military use.[23]

On October 27, 1965, the area was declared "open to disposition under certain provisions" through Proclamation No. 481, which was issued by President Diosdado Macapagal.[24] Pembo would be established to for personnel of the First Ranger Regiment, who were also known as the Panthers.[25] In 1966, Cembo Annex was separated from Cembo proper and was renamed South Cembo.[26]

On December 11, 1972, two barangays inside the Fort Bonifacio military reservation were established, namely: Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside.[27][28]

Transfer to Makati

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On January 7, 1986, President Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation No. 2475, which transferred control of the Fort Bonifacio area to the municipal government of Makati and reserved the area for military personnel and their dependents.[29] In 1990, President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 518 to award land titles in the EMBO area to bona fide occupants.[12][30]

In February 1996, a new barangay named Rizal was created from Pembo through Makati City Ordinance No. 96-010. It was later ratified through a plebiscite held on June 29, 1996. Prior to the creation of Rizal, Pembo was larger than the municipality of Pateros, with a land area of 123 hectares (300 acres) and a population of 65,000 in 1995.[25][31]

The Fort Bonifacio area and the Embo barangays would be subject of a territorial dispute between the city governments of Taguig and Makati. Taguig filed the case in 1993. In 2022, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Makati should stop exercising jurisdiction over the Embo barangays although the Makati city government has maintained that will continue to do so until it exhausts all legal remedies and Taguig secures a writ of execution from the Supreme Court.[10]

Transfer to Taguig

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Aerial view of barangays East Rembo, Pembo, Rizal, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside, with Bonifacio Global City on the background, in October 2023

In April 2023, the Supreme Court of the Philippines has junked the motion for reconsideration that was filed by the City Government of Makati to override the court's earlier decision, siding with Taguig. The Taguig city government has released a statement "welcoming the new Taguigeños", referring to the residents of the affected Embo barangays, and that they would start working on the transition and handover of the Embo barangays.[8] On the dispositive portion of the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruling on December 1, 2021, it reinstated the Writ of Preliminary Injunction dated August 2, 1994 issued by the RTC of Pasig, explicitly referring to Parcels 3 and 4, Psu-2031, comprising Fort Bonifacio, be made permanent insofar as it enjoined the Municipality, now City of Makati, from exercising jurisdiction over, making improvements on, or otherwise treating as part of its territory, Parcels 3 and 4, Psu-2031, comprising Fort Bonifacio.[18] However, the Court did not rule on the ownership of the facilities, including schools and health centers, that were built with Makati funds. The property had been awarded to Makati by the national government through Proclamation No. 1916, which was signed on October 14, 2009.[32] However, subsequent Proclamations after 1994 that granted properties, land and other benefits to Makati in the area could be assailed or invalidated for the same faulty assumption as the 1986 Marcos proclamation.

If Makati insists on ownership and continues to deprive the Embo citizens of public facilities, they can be considered as builders in bad faith, and Taguig, as rightful owner of the land, is entitled to remedies to rectify this. If the lands are titled to Makati, they are subject to the property, tax, business, and zoning laws of Taguig. If untitled, Makati is basically squatting on Taguig lands. The transfer of registry records will be the solution to this conundrum.

Similar to the 1989 and 2001 Camarines NorteQuezon (Santa ElenaCalauag) territorial dispute Supreme Court cases, in which the ruling was in favor of Santa Elena, Camarines Norte, was able to gain most of the government properties in the disputed barangays like barangay halls, schools, covered courts without the need for the writ of execution.[33]

On November 8, 2023, the Department of the Interior and Local Government released a memo dated October 26, 2023 transferring the control of the Embo barangays to Taguig.[34]

In September 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a legal opinion that buildings and structures located in the Enlisted Men’s Barrios (EMBO) barangays previously part of Makati are under the jurisdiction of Taguig. Justice Department gave its opinion in response to a query from Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, who sought to determine whether the Supreme Court‘s 2023 ruling also transferred ownership of the buildings in the Embo barangays to Taguig.[35]

In October 2024, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has adopted the Senate resolution seeking to include the Enlisted Men's Barrios (EMBO) barangays as part of the two legislative districts of Taguig City for the 2025 Philippine general election. In a memorandum released Friday, the poll body said the Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 was "consistent with Comelec Resolution No. 11069" which assigned the 10 EMBO barangays in the first and second districts and increased the number of seats for the Sangguniang Panlungsod from 8 to 12.[36]

Comelec declared the following district assignments:

First Legislative District :

  • Comembo
  • Pembo
  • Rizal

Second Legislative District :

Barangays and districts

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The political map of Embo barangays. Faded portions of the Post Proper barangays, previously claimed by Makati, overlap the territory that is already controlled by Taguig's barangays Fort Bonifacio, Pinagsama, Ususan, and Western Bicutan.

The Embo barangays are constituted as barangays of Taguig.[11][37] These barangays are divided between Taguig-Pateros' two legislative districts and were previously part of Makati's 2nd legislative district.[38][39] The two Inner Fort barangays, namely Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside, as well as Pitogo and Rizal (formerly part of Pembo) are also grouped with other barangays with "Embo" in its name. The district claims an area of 8.838 km2 (3.412 sq mi), which includes disputed areas with barangays Fort Bonifacio, Pinagsama, and Ususan.

Official Seal Barangay Etymology Population (2020) Area Ref.
  Comembo[a] Combat Enlisted Men's Barrio 15,805 0.27 km2
(0.10 sq mi)
Pembo[b] Panthers Enlisted Men's Barrio 44,506 0.64 km2
(0.25 sq mi)
  Rizal[c] Named after José Rizal 44,536 0.59 km2
(0.23 sq mi)
[40]
Total population and area 104,847 1.5 km2
(0.58 sq mi)
Official Seal Barangay Etymology Population (2020) Area Ref.
Cembo[d] Central Enlisted Men's Barrio 25,049 0.22 km2
(0.085 sq mi)
South Cembo[e] 14,978 0.20 km2
(0.077 sq mi)
East Rembo[f] Riverside Enlisted Men’s Barrio 26,450 0.44 km2
(0.17 sq mi)
West Rembo[g] 29,649 0.55 km2
(0.21 sq mi)
  Pitogo[h] From pitogo, a local term for a palm plant 14,654 0.14 km2
(0.054 sq mi)
[41]
  Post Proper Northside[i] 57,940 2.376 km2
(0.917 sq mi)
  Post Proper Southside[j] 63,308 3.412 km2
(1.317 sq mi)
Total population and area 232,028 7.698 km2
(2.972 sq mi)

Education

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University of Makati is Makati's city-run university. It is now under the territory of Taguig following the Supreme Court ruling which places the Embo barangays under Taguig.
 
Makati Science High School

There are 14 public elementary and secondary schools in Embo under the supervision of the Schools Division Office of Taguig City and Pateros (SDO-TAPAT) since January 1, 2024.[42] These schools were formerly under the Schools Division Office of Makati, and were transferred to the jurisdiction of SDO-TAPAT following the resolution of the Makati–Taguig territorial dispute, which was ruled with finality in 2023 that declared that the Fort Bonifacio area, including the Embo barangays, are part of Taguig.

Formerly, West Rembo was designated by the local government of Makati as the city's Center of Education and Cultural Affairs. It is the site of Makati's public university, University of Makati. While Cembo was the site of the Makati Science High School.[17]

The 14 public elementary and secondary schools are:

  • Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School (Comembo)
  • Cembo Elementary School (Cembo)
  • Comembo Elementary School (Comembo)
  • East Rembo Elementary School (East Rembo)
  • Fort Bonifacio Elementary School (West Rembo)
  • Fort Bonifacio High School (West Rembo)
  • Makati Science High School (Cembo)
  • Pembo Elementary School (Pembo)
  • Pitogo Elementary School (Pitogo)
  • Pitogo High School (Pitogo)
  • Rizal Elementary School (Rizal)
  • South Cembo Elementary School (South Cembo)
  • Tibagan High School (East Rembo)
  • West Rembo Elementary School (West Rembo)

Most of Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside overlap territories controlled by barangays Fort Bonifacio and Pinagsama, which are home to educational institutions. Fort Bonifacio is home to private institutions, including international schools and the satellite campuses of De La Salle University and University of the Philippines, in Bonifacio Global City, while Pinagsama is home to Enderun Colleges and MINT College in McKinley Hill and Palar Integrated School, a public school already under the jurisdiction of Taguig.

Religion

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St. John of the Cross Parish Church in Pembo
 
Mater Dolorosa Parish Church in East Rembo.

The predominantly Roman Catholic population in the Embo barangays, particularly the areas previously controlled by Makati, is served by five parishes under the Archdiocese of Manila.[43][44] Conversely, the areas already under the control of Taguig, even before the transfer of Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside to the city, including the Bonifacio Global City and parts of the Bonifacio Capital District, fall under the Diocese of Pasig.[45]

The Mater Dolorosa Parish of the Amigonian Fathers and Brothers in East Rembo was established on September 8, 1987 through a decree by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin. It originally covered the barangays of Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, and Pembo. Cembo would later be transferred to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.[46] The Saint John of the Cross Parish would be established for Pembo on August 9, 1991.[47] On June 18, 1992, the Santa Teresita would be established in West Rembo. In 1998, a standalone parish for Comembo was proposed and was realized within the span of two years.[46] The Military Ordinariate of the Philippines also has jurisdiction over the Philippine Army headquarters once claimed by Post Proper Southside and formerly the St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Bonifacio Global City, which is previously a military reservation.[45]

The Pembo locale of Iglesia ni Cristo is located at Barangay Rizal. The headquarters of Victory, an Evangelical Christian church, is located in Bonifacio Global City, Fort Bonifacio, particularly in the area overlapping the Post Proper Northside. A chapel of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located in Comembo. Churches of Baptists and Members Church of God International are also found in the Embo barangays.

Notes

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Former Makati Barangay Numbering
  1. ^ Also known as Barangay 28
  2. ^ Also known as Barangay 29
  3. ^ Also known as Barangay 33
  4. ^ Also known as Barangay 25
  5. ^ Also known as Barangay 24
  6. ^ Also known as Barangay 27
  7. ^ Also known as Barangay 26
  8. ^ Also known as Barangay 23
  9. ^ Also known as Barangay 30
  10. ^ Also known as Barangay 31

References

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  2. ^ Hicap, Jonathan (29 February 2024). "Taguig's EMBO barangays get new ZIP codes". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Newly elected EMBO Barangay, SK officials took oath before Binay". CNN Philippines. November 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  4. ^ Bautista, Nillicent (January 6, 2024). "'Embo' barangays excluded from Makati's tax allocation". Philippine Star. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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  7. ^ San Juan, Joel (May 12, 2023). "Supreme Court gives Pateros say in land row". BusinessMirror. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Hicap, Jonathan (April 3, 2023). "Taguig LGU lauds SC decision over Fort Bonifacio ownership". Manila Bulletin.
  9. ^ Cayabyab, Marc Jayson (April 5, 2023). "Makati raises 'constitutional' issues in BGC land dispute". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
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  29. ^ Presidential Proclamation No. 2475, s. 1986 (January 7, 1986), Excluding From the Operation of Proclamation No. 423, Series of 1957 Which Established the Fort William Mckinley (Now Fort Bonifacio) Military Reservation Situated in the Municipalities of Pasig, Taguig, Parañaque, Makati and Pasay City, Metro Manila, a Certain Portion of the Land Embraced Therein Situated in the Municipality of Makati and Declaring the Same Open to Disposition Under the Provisions of Act No. 3038 and Republic Act No. 274 in Relation the Provisions of the Public Land Act, as Amended, Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines, retrieved April 6, 2023
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  47. ^ "Our History". St. John of the Cross Parish. Retrieved 30 April 2022.