Noynoy’s cousin, several others face raps over alleged environment crimes in Boracay

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed complaints for environmental crimes against three Boracay establishments, one of which is owned by a relative of former president Benigno Aquino III.

Ramon O. Cojuangco, Jr., the president of Playa Asya, Resort. Inc.,, seven company officers and several Malay, Aklan officials face charges for violation of Section 20 in relation to Sections 79, and 84 of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

These provisions refer to license agreement and lease or permit in relation to those on unlawful occupation or destruction of forest lands and tax declaration on real property.

Playa Asya operates Asya Boracay and Asya Premier Suites, the latter of which is alleged to be sitting on 4,666 square meters of forest land, according to the NBI's complaint filed Monday.

Cojuangco, alongside Malay, Aklan mayor Ceciron Cawaling, former town mayor John Yap and 18 other local officials also face complaints for violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Local Government Code of 1991.

Meanwhile, the two other complaints linked Skygarden De Boracay Corp. and Kingfishers Farm and their officers, as well as Cawaling, Yap, and several town officials to the same alleged violations.

Kingfishers Farm is also accused of violation of the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.

The charges were lodged weeks after Boracay, a popular tourist destination, was reopened to the public after a six-month environmental rehabilitation.

The NBI earlier filed five complaints against resort operators and developers for alleged offenses that similarly included encroachment on forest lands.  —NB, GMA News