The Court of Appeals upheld its ruling in favor of the conversion of the historic Army and Navy Club in Manila into a boutique hotel and casino.
In a two-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Ramon Ramon Garcia, the appellate court dismissed with finality the motion for reconsideration and petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption seeking to stop the conversion of the facility on issues of technicality for violating the principle on hierarchy of courts.
The CA ruled that “neither certiorari nor prohibition is the remedy in the present case.”
“Accordingly, this case is considered closed and terminated,” the CA said.
The ruling gave the green light to Oceanville Hotel and Spa Corp. to continue the conversion of the former Army and Navy Club in Manila into a boutique hotel and a casino gaming facility.
The appellate court also noted that the decision of the Manila City government to enter into an agreement with private entities for the development of the Army and Navy Club and the approval of the development by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines cannot be considered a judicial, quasi-judicial or ministerial action that can be a subject of a petition for certiorari.
The Army and Navy Club, founded in 1898, is considered to be the first American social club in the Philippines.
During World War II, the club was occupied by Japanese forces and was heavily damaged. It was liberated by the Filipino soldiers and American troops in 1945.
On April 26, 1991, the National Historical Institute declared the 12,705.30 square meter club as a national historical landmark because it is considered as a “living monument of Filipino-American friendship and cooperation.”