The Court of Appeals has been asked to stop the conversion of the historic Army and Navy Club in Manila into a boutique hotel and a casino gaming facility.
In a 36-page petition, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption asked the CA to issue a temporary restraining order enjoining the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., the City of Manila from continuing the construction activities at the Army and Navy Club facility, and after a hearing to issue a writ or preliminary injunction to stop its conversion into a hotel and casino gaming facility.
Besides Pagcor and Manila City government, also named respondents were the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corporation and Vanderwood Management Corporation.
The petitioner stressed the construction of a casino gaming facility in the Army and Navy Club, which has been declared a national historical landmark, violated not only the Constitution but also Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 mandating the protection, preservation, conservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage, properties and histories.
The VACC lamented the construction of the casino, which will extend to the Manila Elk Club that now houses the Museo Pambata, is also deplorable to the country’s sense of morality and obligation to children not to be exposed to gambling.
“Thus, petitioner is prompted to go to this Honorable Court, to prevent the further desecration of a national historical landmark, to defend the nation’s heritage, and to protect the rights and welfare of the Filipino children,” the VACC through its founding chairman and president Dante Jimenez said.
“Since the property is a national historical landmark, which under RA 10066 should be preserved, conserved and protected from any destruction, demolition, mutilation, damages or any form of alteration, petitioner implores the certiorari and prohibitory powers of this Honorable court to perpetually enjoin respondents from destroying and altering the Army and Navy Club facility for the purpose of converting the same into boutique hotel and a casino gaming facility, which effectively alters the 29th century old original structure,” the petitioner stressed.
The group blamed the Manila City government and NHCP for allowing the establishment, construction and operation of the PAGCOR casino within the property.