ACCRALAW successfully argued before the Supreme Court en banc a case of first impression in the Philippines. In a landmark case involving the question of whether there is any rule or law that prohibits or restricts the construction within the “sight line” of a national monument, ACCRALAW’s team of lawyers participated in the oral arguments. The team was composed of Victor P. Lazatin, Stephen George S.D. Aquino, Antonio Jose Gerardo T. Paz, Catherine Ann L. Dino, Monica Joy M. Marcelo and Ana Margarita A. Rodriguez.
Atty. Lazatin argued that DMCI secured all the necessary permits and approvals from the local government unit involved and that demolition of the structure based on alleged constitutional grounds of preservation of heritage is unwarranted. Atty. Lazatin also argued that the constitutional provision on preservation of heritage applies only to the historical site per se (and not to its backdrop) and is subject to the interpretation only of the appropriate agency such as the National Historical Commission.
The Supreme Court en banc rendered a Decision on 25 April 2017 in favor of DMCI allowing it to continue with the construction of its condominium project. As of this writing, said Decision has yet to attain finality.