MANILA, April 21 -- The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that unauthorized structures on public land, including videoke machines, sari-sari (retail) stores, billiard tables, eateries, and other businesses on beaches, may be demolished for being public nuisances.

In a news release Monday, the SC Second Division upheld a Court of Appeals (CA) order to demolish various illegal structures at Matabungkay Beach in Lian, Batangas that were built without permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The owners of a resort in Matabungkay filed a case against owners of informal structures operating along the beach for over 50 years.

The resort owners claimed the structures were built without the necessary permits and disru...