Pia Cayetano: Manila’s historic building illegally demolished

Senator Pia Cayetano. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The historic Army and Navy Club building was demolished without the approval of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Senator Pia Cayetano revealed Thursday.

In a post on her Twitter account, the lady senator posted a copy of the Cease and Desist order issued by the NHCP dated September 5 directing the Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation, the developer of the building, to stop “all activities affecting the cultural property”.

Cayetano conducted an ocular inspection Wednesday to check the damage brought to the original building. She also met with the NHCP and the hotel developer to discuss the Cease and Desist order.

Oceanville Hotel and Spa wants to transform the historical landmark to a five star boutique hotel and spa.

The NHCP order said that although the NHCP approved last August 6 to dismantle the two ancillary structures of the Army and Navy Club, the decision does not extend to the original building.

NHCP also directed Felino Palafox Jr., the architect in charge of the project, to turn over the final development plan of the building to the commission.

In a statement, Cayetano lauded the decision of the NHCP to issue the Cease and Desist order saying that it is “high time that developers heed and respect the authority of our cultural agencies.”

The dismantling of the components of the original building was exposed after photos of the gutted-out historical building went viral on social media recently. Historical conservation groups slammed Oceanville for “practically stripping” the original building.

The Army and Navy Club building was completed in 1909 and served as a bomb shelter during the Second World War. The said establishment was declared as a National Historical Landmark in 1991.

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