Background:
The controversy centers on the construction of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort within the protected Chocolate Hills area in Sagbayan, Bohol. The resort featured a swimming pool, cottages, and a function hall—structures that sparked public outrage after viral photos in 2023 showed them nestled among the iconic hills without proper environmental and business permits.
⚖️ Legal Fallout
- On August 12, 2025, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of Sagbayan Mayor Restituto Suarez III, zoning administrator Maximo Lomosbog, and municipal building official Alan Dinoy for grave misconduct.
- Several officials from the DENR and the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) were also dismissed for gross neglect of duty.
- Governor Aumentado, along with former governors Arthur Yap and Edgar Chatto, was named in criminal complaints now pending before the Sandiganbayan, although he was not dismissed from office.
🧾 Governor’s Response
- Aumentado announced he will file a motion for reconsideration with the Ombudsman, asserting his innocence and claiming he did not violate any law.
- He emphasized that he had acted to protect Bohol’s natural heritage, citing his immediate call for an investigation when the resort controversy erupted in 2023.
- His legal team is preparing evidence to prove he acted within the bounds of his mandate as governor.
- He also addressed criticisms over his absence from key PAMB meetings between 2018 and 2022, which the Ombudsman cited as part of the reprimand.
🏛️ Broader Implications
- The resort operated from 2019 to 2024 without essential permits, including:
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Environmental Compliance Certificate
- Special Use Agreement for Protected Areas
- The Chocolate Hills, a UNESCO Global Geopark and National Geological Monument, are protected under the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act.
- The fiasco has raised concerns about regulatory oversight, local governance, and the preservation of national heritage sites.
0 comments:
Post a Comment