SC: Construction of Torre de Manila can resume

Torre de Manila. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

(Updated, 4:58 p.m.) The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave the green light to resume the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila condominium, which mars the view of the Rizal Monument in Luneta.

Voting 9-6, the high tribunal in a session in Baguio City junked the petition by the Order of the Knights of Rizal in September 2014 to stop the construction of the 49-storey condominium by DMCI Project Developer Inc., dubbed as the “national photobomber.”

In a media briefer, the SC Public Information Office said the petition was dismissed because “the Court has no jurisdiction over the subject matter,” “the petitioners have no standing to sue,” and “they stand to suffer no injury.”

“Furthermore, the Court also found that there is now law that prohibits the construction of the challenged Torre de Manila. As a consequence of the judgment rendered today, the TRO (temporary restraining order) issued by the Court is lifted,” it added.

Those who voted to allow the construction were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Justices Antonio Carpio, Marvic Leonen, Presbitero Velasco Jr., Bienvenido Reyes, Noel Tijam, Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Mariano Del Castillo and Lucas Bersamin. Carpio wrote the majority decision.

Those who voted against the construction were Associate Justices Francis Jardeleza, Samuel Martires, Teresita De Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Jose Mendoza and Alfredo Caguioa.

The SC issued a TRO on June 16, 2015, stopping the construction of the high-rise structure onTaft Avenue. With reports from Marlon Ramos, Philippine Daily Inquirer/IDL/rga

RELATED STORIES

SC defers ruling on bid to demolish Torre de Manila

Torre de Manila developers seek SC nod to resume condo work