Subic Bay Freeport zone peaceful amid resorts' ownership row

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone remained "peaceful" despite the recent clash over the management of two popular resorts, which resulted in an armed takeover, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) said.

"SBMA is advising its locators, stakeholders, workers and the public at large that the Subic Bay Freeport Zone continues to be peaceful and there is no threat of any kind that will endanger law and order in the Freeport," SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma said in an emailed statement.

The clash between two stakeholders of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc. (SBMEI), each claiming to be the rightful president and CEO of the company, has led to an armed takeover of the Ocean Adventure and the Camayan Beach Resort. 

Arthur Tai, the deposed CEO of SBMEI, claimed that the takeover led by the new CEO Scott Sharpe was illegal. 

However, SBMEI said in a statement that Tai's removal was lawfully carried out and was backed by a court order. 

"The SBMA regrets the fact that reports about the February 13 incident at the Ocean Adventure facility were not reflective of the true state of matters thereat, causing unnecessary worry and concern," Eisma noted.

She explained that what happened at the facility was a result of an intra-corporate dispute which is in the process of being resolved by the ownership and management of the SBMEI.

"In fact, the Department of Labor and Employment conducted its own impartial inspection of the facility and confirmed that all operations at Ocean Adventure continue to run normally and peacefully, taking due note of the large number of young students enjoying their trip to the facility," the SBMA administrator added.

"Again, we are informing the public that everything is normal, and that the security and safety that is expected within the Freeport Zone is and will always be there," Eisma said.

She also emphasized that the SBMA continues and will always strictly enforce the rule of law in the freeport and assured stakeholders and the community that the Freeport Zone is "safe from any security threat." — MDM, GMA News