Malacañang on suggestion to turn Rizal Monument: Leave it be

In this photo taken on June 11, the controversial Torre de Manila condominium is seen standing behind the Rizal Monument at Luneta Park in Manila. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Malacañang prefers the monument of national hero Jose Rizal to be left alone.

This was the statement made on Saturday by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte when asked for a Palace comment on the suggestion of Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing to turn the Rizal Monument 180 degrees so that the Torre de Manila high-rise condominium would no longer be its background.

Valte said over government-run Radyo ng Bayan that the Torre de Manila issue was not just the view or aesthetics.

“Some people are saying it’s being haughty,” Valte said, referring to complaints that the DMCI building was an eyesore of a background to the Rizal Monument in Manila.

“But you know, that is not the issue here. Perhaps it is not the monument of Rizal that we should move to resolve (the issue). Let’s leave the monument be,” Valte said.

The DMCI condominium project has drawn the ire of many because it sticks like a sore thumb in the skyline behind the Rizal Monument.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order, stopping DMCI from continuing its construction of the 40-story building.

The High Court set the oral arguments on the petition on July 21.