By Argyll Cyrus Geducos SINGAPORE — Malacañang said that there is no reason for the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the closure of the world-famous Boracay island, noting that the SC itself has ruled that it is owned by the government. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement after it was reported that Boracay workers, represented by the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL), filed a petition asking the SC to issue a TRO on the island's closure. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing in Malacañang on April 20, 2018.
(YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) The petitioners said that the order is in violation of their constitutional rights and the rights of all people living and working on the island. However, Roque said that there is no merit for any citizen to stop the six-month closure of Boracay. The closure is intended to rehabilitate the island after Duterte called is a cesspool last February. "While the President respects the Court, we see absolutely no merit for any private party to restraint the closure of Boracay to tourists given that SC itself has previously ruled that Boracay is owned primarily by the state," he said. "We see no reason how private persons can allege and prove irreparable injuries, a prerequisite for TRO, given that their stay in the island is by mere tolerance of the State," he added. "Unless a TRO is issued, the planned closure of Boracay to tourists shall proceed," he continued. Roque then reiterated that the closure of the famous tourist destination is because of the inherent police power of the state to protect the environment in Boracay.   Read more: Boracay workers ask High Court to issue TRO on island closure