Press Release - Cayetano outraged over Makati's padlocking of EMBO fire stations: "They put lives in danger"

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday expressed outrage and disgust over the City of Makati's decision to deprive the 10 EMBO (Enlisted Men's Barrio) barangays of a smooth transition to the City of Taguig.

This followed his discovery of padlocked fire stations that he said could have ended in tragedy during the holiday season.

In a Facebook Live on his official page, Cayetano said the fire stations were ordered padlocked by City of Makati Mayor Abby Binay despite having earlier said her city will abide by the Supreme Court ruling that placed the 10 EMBOs under the City of Taguig.

He said aside from the fire stations, Makati had also closed health centers, schools, and police stations in the EMBOs.

"Mukhang sa lipunan natin nawawala na y'ung tama is tama and mali is mali. The issue is that the people of Taguig were put in grave danger n'ung Christmas Eve until now because kinandado ang mga fire station sa EMBO. Napa kadelikado ang nangyari na inabandona ng BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) ang mga fire station sa EMBO barangays," the senator said.

Cayetano said he discovered the matter on New Year's Day when he and his wife, City of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, visited the police stations of Barangays West Rembo and Comembo.

"First day of the year na bumalik ang mga EMBO sa Taguig after decades. Inimbita kami ni Lani sa West Rembo and Comembo at nag-boodle fight kasama ang mga police. Pagtingin namin, sa same compound, nakakandado ang fire station," he said.

Cayetano said this meant that on December 31, at the height of of the New Year celebration, "nakakandado na pala ang mga fire station."

"Wala tayong kamalay-malay at alam naman po natin na red alert kapag December 31 dahil napakaraming gumagamit ng mga paputok," he angrily added.

Cayetano said a resident also approached him and told him that someone had died due to lack of personnel and health facilities.

"May magulang na pumunta sa amin na may namatay sa kanila dahil 45 minutes naghihintay ng ambulansya. Wala daw driver ng ambulansya ng barangay," he said.

Cayetano said he called up the Director of Bureau of Fire regarding this but to no avail. He said he learned that the padlocking of fire stations was under