Manila: A fraternal organisation lauded a Supreme Court order temporarily preventing a real estate firm from continuing with the construction of a building that will obstruct the view of the shrine to national hero Jose Rizal.

The International Order of the Knights (KOR) of Rizal said it expresses “great happiness” over the recent resolution issued by the Supreme Court that temporarily bars condominium developer DMCI from proceeding with the construction of the Torre de Manila, a 46-storey residential condominium along Taft Avenue, Manila.

The KOR said it hopes the court restraining order would eventually lead to the issuance of a permanent ruling that would put an end to plans by DMCI to put up the building blocking the view to a monument to one of the country’s most revered personalities.

The KOR had asked the Supreme Court in September 12, 2014 to stop DMCI from constructing the towering edifice as it pointed out that Torre de Manila would obstruct the public’s view to the Rizal monument.

“The monument is the identifying mark in our country’s irreplaceable greatness where all foreign dignitaries, state visitors and the like pay homage and respect thereof,” the group, which claims to have 24 chapters around the world, said.

The under construction Torre de Manila had been derided as a “photobomber” by netizens.

Foreigners and even locals always make it a point to the Rizal Monument as their backdrop in photos. They said the view of the iconic monument that came to symbolise the Philippine capital, would be obstructed if DMCI is allowed to construct the tower.

For her part, Senator Pia Cayetano who protested the construction of Torre de Manila from the start, said the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court is a victory of sorts for those against the construction of the building.

“With its issuance of a temporary restraining order, the Supreme Court recognised the urgent and solemn need to protect our culture and heritage. It sends the strong message that the Rizal Shrine is not just any old structure that anyone could toy around with, but a sacred symbol of our nationhood and history as a people,” she said.

“I hope that the TRO would serve as a reminder to property developers and other business groups to be more circumspect in their actions, and to make it part of their corporate vision to contribute to the preservation of our rich heritage and culture instead of damaging it.”

Cayatano and the KOR both said the timing of the restraining order also takes special relevance as the nation will commemorate Rizal’s 154th birth anniversary of Rizal on June 19.

Rizal, a doctor and man of letters is a propagandist at a time when the country was still under the Spanish colonial administration.