MANILA, Philippines?It?s final. The three oil giants, Chevron Phils. Inc. (formerly Caltex), Petron Corp., and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., must move out of their oil depots in the largely residential area of Pandacan, the Supreme Court said.

In a four-page resolution, the high tribunal denied with finality the appeal filed by big three oil companies to allow them to stay where they are.

?No further pleadings shall be entertained in this case?Let an entry of judgment be made in due course,? it said.

In denying the motion, the high court said a second motion for reconsideration is a prohibited pleading under Section 2, Rule 52 of the Rules of court.

The high court said it has already passed upon the basic issues on its February 13, 2008 resolution saying that the arguments of the oil companies were a mere rehash of their arguments raised in their first appeal.

Also, the high court took note of the fact that the oil firms already started complying with their order for the phase out of oil depots in Manila after submitting the required plans before the Manila Regional Trial Court.

In its February 2008 resolution, the high court dismissed the appeal filed by the three oil companies and ordered the City Government of Manila to immediately implement Ordinance 8027 that reclassified portions of the Manila Districts of Pandacan and Sta. Ana from industrial to commercial after finding that the area is vulnerable to terrorist attack.

The high court took note of the January 23, 2008 incident when a defective tanker containing 2,000 liters of gasoline and 14,000 liters of diesel exploded in the middle of the street a short distance from the exit gate of the Pandacan Terminals, causing death, extensive damage, and a terrifying fire in the area.

"Need we say anything about what will happen if it is the estimated 162 to 211 million liters of petroleum products in the terminal complex which blow up?" the high court asked

The high court ordered the Presiding Judge of Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 39 to monitor the strict enforcement of its resolution.

The case stemmed from the petition filed by Social Justice Society and Manila residents Vladimir T. Cabigao and Bonifacio S. Tumbokon asking the high court to compel the Manila City government to implement Ordinance 8027.

In its ruling, the high court said there is nothing in the law stopping then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza from implementing the ordinance and ordering the relocation of the depots.