Nancy Binay open to talk with Lani Cayetano to end Makati-Taguig feud

Makati Mayor-elect Nancy Binay expressed willingness to have a dialogue with Taguig Mayor-elect Lani Cayetano to end the ongoing feud between the two cities.

In Mav Gonzales’ Thursday report on “24 Oras,” Binay said there are no issues between her and Cayetano so engaging in a dialogue should be easy for them.

“Okay lang sa akin na mag-initiate (I'm okay to initiate the talk),” Binay said.

“Ang hirap kaya na kaaway mo yung kapitbahay mo. Kailangan talaga namin mag usap ni Mayor Lani para maayos itong gulo between Makati at Taguig kasi ayaw ko naman na maapektuhan yung mga kababayan ko sa EMBO,” she added.

(It’s pretty hard if your neighbor is your enemy. Mayor Lani and I need to talk in order to fix what is wrong between Makati and Taguig because I don’t want the residents of the EMBO barangays to be affected.)

The Supreme Court earlier decided the 10 EMBO barangays previously part of Makati are under the jurisdiction of Taguig, but the two cities filed cases against each other.

Makati maintained that some of the assets of the EMBO barangays such as barangay halls, public parks, and health centers, belong to it.

Despite the situation, Binay said she will not deny services to residents of the affected villages.

“Yung ownership, hindi tayo nag a-agree na its already part ng property ng Taguig pero yung paggamit for the meantime parang hindi nating kokontrahin 'yun kasi sayang naman, nandun na 'yun, natayo na 'yun so bakit ko naman ipagkakait sa mga taga EMBO yung paggamit ng facilities na 'yun,” Binay said.

(We don’t agree that the facilities are now owned by Taguig, but I will not deny the services to residents since these are already there.)

Despite being open to having a dialogue, Binay said Senator Peter Alan Cayetano should be excluded from the meeting.

To recall, the senator led the Senate investigation on the alleged corruption of Nancy's father, former vice president Jejomar Binay, during his time as Makati mayor.

Nancy, who is an outgoing senator, and Peter also engaged in several arguments during Senate hearings, including the issue of the new Senate building.

“Mas maganda na kaming dalawa na lang para walang mag baggage,” Nancy said. Peter is the husband of the Taguig mayor.

(It’s better if only Lani and I be present at the meeting so that there is no baggage.)

Meanwhile, the Taguig mayor welcomed Binay’s invitation.

“I’m also very excited to work with Mayor Nancy Binay. I think marami kaming mapag tatagumpayan ng mga programa dahil marami naman kaming programang aligned lalo na yung pag interest, yung convenience, and yung mga welfare ng mga kababayan natin ang pag uusapan,” Cayetano said.

(I’m also very excited to work with Mayor Nancy Binay. I think we can accomplish several programs since we have many programs that are aligned, especially in the interest, convenience, and welfare of our countrymen.)

Nancy also said she will write to her sister, outgoing Makati Mayor Abby Binay, regarding the transition of leadership.

They still have yet to talk, and Nancy is hoping they can amend their relationship, especially since the election is done.

Nancy defeated her brother-in-law and Abby’s husband, Luis Campos, in the Makati mayoral position.

“Kahit anong dahilan, basta magkakaayos kami dapat na magkakapatid. Pwedeng hindi ngayon but in the future kasi naiintindihan ko din baka may mga sugat pa na na create dahil dun sa laban sa amin sa local pero paulit-ulit kong sinasabi na hindi ako nagsasara ng pinto na mag aayos kaming magkakapatid,” Nancy said.

(We siblings will amend our relationship one way or another. It might not be right now but in the future, because I understand that there might have been wounds that were created during the local election, but I always say that my doors are open to fixing our relationship.)

GMA Integrated News is seeking comment from Abby Binay. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News