The Supreme Court on Wednesday has affirmed its March 7, 2007 ruling ordering the relocation of oil terminals in Pandacan in Manila.
In a 78-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Renato Corona, the Court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by the country’s big oil companies Chevron (formerly Caltex), Petron Corp. and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation and the Department of Energy who intervened in the case.
The case was originally filed by political party Social Justice Society and Manila residents against then Manila city Mayor Lito Atienza.
The SC was not convinced by the oil companies’ argument that they stand to lose billions of pesos if forced to relocate.
SC spokesman Midas Marquez said that based on the hierarchy of constitutionally-protected rights, the right to life enjoys precedence over right to property.