Supreme Court stops construction of Torre de Manila
MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – The Supreme Court (SC) has temporarily stopped the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila condominium, which culture advocates have slammed for destroying the view of the historic Rizal Shrine.
The temporary restraining order takes effect immediately. Oral arguments on the case starts on June 30. "SC issues TRO against further construction of Torre de Manila," the SC Public Information Office said in its official Twitter account. "The Court was sent this case for oral arguments on June 30, 2015, Tuesday, at the session hall," SC Spokesperson Theodore Te said in a press briefing. Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno on Tuesday said he is expecting the condominium's real estate developer DMCI Homes Incorporated to comply with the temporary restraining order which "could once and for all settle the issue." In September 2014, the Knights of Rizal filed a petition for injunction with the High Court, asking it to stop the controversial condominium project. On January 5, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) also issued a cease and desist order on the Torre de Manila, pointing out that the project "destroys or significantly alters" the view of the historic Rizal Shrine. |
In January, DMCI said only the SC can stop them from constructing Torre de Manila.
'National photobomber'
The building, still under construction and currently 30 storeys tall, has been derided on social media as the "national photobomber," in a nod to the monument's status as one of the country's most photographed vistas.
"Rizal is one of the foremost historical figures in the country. He must own the landscape," said Trixie Angeles, legal consultant of the NCCA chairman's office.
"If we consider him important, he must dominate the landscape. He is the symbol of the Filipino," she told Agence France-Presse.
A spokesperson for developer DMCI declined to comment, saying the company had not been furnished with a copy of the court's decision.– with a report from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com
Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/96540-sc-tro-torre-de-manila
'National photobomber'
The building, still under construction and currently 30 storeys tall, has been derided on social media as the "national photobomber," in a nod to the monument's status as one of the country's most photographed vistas.
"Rizal is one of the foremost historical figures in the country. He must own the landscape," said Trixie Angeles, legal consultant of the NCCA chairman's office.
"If we consider him important, he must dominate the landscape. He is the symbol of the Filipino," she told Agence France-Presse.
A spokesperson for developer DMCI declined to comment, saying the company had not been furnished with a copy of the court's decision.– with a report from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com
Source: http://www.rappler.com/nation/96540-sc-tro-torre-de-manila