Daily Times

A high-rise condominium dubbed “the national photobomber” will continue to loom over a historic Philippine monument after the Supreme Court struck down a bid by conservationists to have it torn down.

The partially-built 49-storey Torre de Manila, which protrudes over the skyline of the capital, has risen to overshadow the tomb of national hero Jose Rizal – one of the country’s most photographed monuments. Building work has remained stalled for years after conservationists brought a lawsuit in 2014 complaining that the tower breached city building codes, leading the Supreme Court to issue an injunction preventing its completion while it reviewed the case. But in a statement on Tuesday it said it had no jurisdiction over the issue.

“The court also found that there is no law that prohibits the construction of the challenged Torre de Manila,” the court added.

DMCI, the developer of the condominium, said it “welcomes the fair and just decision of the Supreme Court” and announced plans to resume work immediately.

Professor Ian Morley, a historian of the Chinese University of Hong Kong who has studied the case called the verdict “disappointing”, but said it was unsurprising given that the law gives little weight to heritage arguments.

“The decision today is a legal precedent: it sets a marker where heritage is on the context of Philippine national development,” he told reporters.

The decision was met with anger and derision on social media. “Sucks that the Philippine Supreme Court favours corporate interests over respect for national heritage,” one critic posted on Twitter. “It’s a sad day for Jose Rizal, Manila and proper urban planning,” popular tourist guide Carlos Celdran Tweeted.

Rizal campaigned for reforms under Spanish colonial rule and was jailed and later executed in 1896 by firing squad at the park that now holds his tomb and monument.