Trillanes suspects: Boracay was shut down so construction materials for new casino can come in

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday said he will question the closure of Boracay Island, saying that there could be a deeper motive behind its shutdown.

Trillanes made the remark after President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of three government agencies to close off the popular tourist destination for six months starting April 26 for rehabilitation.

"I will question the real motive kung bakit pinasara ang Boracay. Hindi ako naniniwala na environmentalist itong si Mr. Duterte," Trillanes said in a news conference.

Trillanes said Duterte has also earlier ordered the closure of some erring companies in the mining and online gaming industries, but none have been shut down yet.

"I believe ito ay may agenda behind it dahil kung gusto mo talagang ayusin yung mga sewerage treatment plants diyan, pwede mong gawin yan without closing down Boracay," he said.

"Itong sa Boracay, may mga kababayan tayo na nagha-hanapbuhay diyan araw-araw, hand to mouth existence. Saan nila kukuhanin yun for six months?" he added.

Trillanes suspected that Boracay Island was ordered closed to make way for the materials to be used for the construction of the $500-million casino in the island.

"Ang suspetsa ko rito, kaya nila pinapasara yung Boracay, para maipasok yung mga kargamento, yung mga semento para maitayo yung casino na yun. But we will validate that. Kasi it doesn't make sense at all to close it," he said.

Someone, Trillanes said, is sure to benefit from the closure of the island and the construction of the casino.

"Masyadong ano yung coincidence e. December, nag-courtesy call yung may-ari ng casino kay Duterte. Nung January, binigyan na agad ng franchise. Tapos after a few weeks, nagsabi na isasara na ang Boracay tapos lahat nagkukumahog na kung paano isasara kasi grabe na raw," he said.

"Definitely may kikita diyan, at alam na natin kung sino," he added.

Instead of shutting down the island completely, Trillanes said authorities could have simply inspected every resort to see if they have committed violations.

"Sa akin, i-inspect nila kada resort. Tignan niyo kung may sewerage treatment plant silang ginawa. Kapag wala, isara niyo to give them time para i-correct ang errors nila," he said.

Trillanes said he would check if the Senate could look into the closure of the popular island resort when it resumes its session.

"Titignan natin dito sa Senado sa resumption kung maisisingit natin. Kaso by then, sarado na," he said. — MDM, GMA News