Press Release - Cayetano secures voting rights of EMBO barangays in landmark Comelec resolution

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday commended the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for including the 10 Enlisted Men's Barrios (EMBO) barangays in Taguig's two legislative districts.

"I'm grateful to the Comelec for ensuring that the people of EMBO will have the representation they deserve, especially since we're nearing the filing of candidacy for the 2025 elections," Cayetano said on September 30, 2024.

Cayetano had led efforts in the Senate to secure the representation of the EMBO barangays through Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23.

This mirrored House Concurrent Resolution No. 37, filed by Taguig-Pateros Representative Ricardo 'Ading' Cruz Jr., aiming to include EMBO barangays in the two legislative districts and increase the number of councilors in the city.

In an eight-page resolution released on September 25, 2024, the Comelec officially included the barangays -- Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Pitogo, Rizal, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside -- in the First and Second Legislative and Councilor Districts of Taguig.

The resolution also increased the number of councilors in each district from eight to 12, following Ordinance No. 144 of the city government of Taguig.

This measure ensures that residents of these barangays will have representation in Congress and enables them to vote for and be elected to the House of Representatives. The additional seats in the City Council will also ensure equitable representation at the local level.

'We cannot afford to do nothing'

The Comelec resolution takes into consideration the ordinance enacted by the City of Taguig. It is also bolstered by Congress' adoption of Concurrent Resolution No. 26, which takes into consideration the Concurrent Resolutions filed separately in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In his manifestation on September 24, 2024, Cayetano emphasized the need for Comelec to take the necessary step to ensure that EMBO residents can vote for a congressional representative in the 2025 elections.

"We should not take away their right to have a representative and to vote for a representative," he said.

In a 2021 decision, which became final in 2022,