MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday denied that the Malacañang has issued an order suspending the demolition of the controversial
Boracay West Cove resort.
DILG assistant secretary Epimaco Densing III said in a radio interview that their office has not received an order from the Office of the President stopping the demolition, as claimed by resort owner Crisostomo Aquino.
“Baka fake news po iyan. Wala ho kaming natatanggap na ganiyang sulat,” Densing told DZMM.
It was reported that the Office of the President, through Deputy Executive Secretary for LegalAffairs Ryan Alvin Acosta, ordered to stop the demolition in the main building of the resort through a March 23 letter.
The letter allegedly stated that the Palace has yet to decide on the appeal that Aquino filed.
“As far as we’re concerned, tuloytuloy po ang pagdi-demolish ng West Cove. In fact, may
instruction pa kay (DILG) secretary (Eduardo) Año na bilis-bilisan,” Densing added.
The DILG assistant secretary also clarified that even if Acosta issued the letter, it only stated that the Palace has yet to decide on the appeal. The demolition was not ordered to stop.
“Sa palagay natin na totoo ang sinasabi ni (Aquino), wala namang kapangyarihan ang
(Malacañang) na patigilin ang demolition dahil under the jurisdiction na ito ng local
government,” Densing said.
Densing added that Boracay West Cove was built on a no-build zone in the island. It also lacked several permits, that is why the local government ordered its demolition.
The resort management appealed to Malacañang after the Environment department cancelled its Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism due to its environmental violations.
In February, Environment secretary Roy Cimatu ordered the demolition of the resort’s famous viewing deck.
Cimatu’s order came days after President Rodrigo Duterte called Boracay a “cesspool.”/PN
