OSG asks SC to reset anew oral arguments on Torre de Manila case

Symbolic demolition of Torre de Manila (Photo: Knights of Rizal International on Facebook)

MANILA — The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has again asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reset to another date the oral arguments on the case of the Torre de Manila, the so-called “national photo bomber” of the monument of Gat. Jose P. Rizal at Rizal Park, Manila.

In the motion filed by the OSG, they asked the SC to again reset the oral arguments on the case in the next 30 days, which was earlier reset on Tuesday, July 21, 2015.

The SC originally set the oral arguments on the case on July 7, 2015.

The motion dated July 15, 2015 said that Solicitor General Florin Hilbay is still in the Hague, Netherlands for the meeting with the legal counsel of the Philippines in the case filed before the International Tribunal against China in connection with the controversial territorial dispute at the West Philippine sea.

Hilbay was expected to arrive in the country on Thursday, but he still has to answer the questions of the Arbitral Tribunal until the July 23, 2015 “deadline”.

The OSG also asked the SC to extend for another 30 days the deadline set by the SC on July 15, 2015, within which to submit their “position paper” on the case of the Torre de Manila.

It argued that both the case in connection with the territorial dispute with China at the West Philippine Sea and the historical and cultural implications of the case of Torre de Manila are important with the government.