Duterte claims one of developments in Boracay belonged to ex-Justice Carpio’s family

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday claimed that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  found developments in Boracay Island belonging to retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, one of his staunchest critics.

In his second Talk to the Nation this week, Duterte said he ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to subject the pieces of property to land reform.

"You know the island of Boracay is a forestal land. Kaya 'yung forestal land dapat walang bahay kasi residential but may nakuhang lupa du'n and one of them is the family of Justice Carpio. And to think that the entire island as of now is forestal," Duterte said after he chimed in during Environment Chief Roy Cimatu's presentation.

"So nu'ng nalaman ko na maraming subdivision sa beach, I called [Agrarian Reform Secretary John] Castriciones, pumunta ka sa likod at tingnan mo tapos sabi ko sa DAR, ipa-declare natin yan as an agricultural kaya ni-land reform ko," the President added.

"'Yung sabi ko... Ni-reform ko lahat... 'Di pa ako nagswimming sa Boracay, Roy, sa totoo lang. Nagpunta ako sa likod nag-distribute ako ng land titles," he further pointed out.

Carpio is one of the convenors of 1Sambayan, a coalition of groups and personalities that aim to field a single opposition ticket in the 2022 national elections.

During the group's launch, Carpio branded the Duterte administration “incompetent” and vowed to offer a “better alternative” that will supposedly restore good governance in the country.

The retired justice had called out the administration’s “mishandling” of the COVID-19 pandemic, South China Sea policy, moves to amend the 1987 Constitution, and alleged threats against businesses, media entities and critics.

In a televised address in May his year, Duterte claimed that Carpio was involved in the decision to withdraw Navy ships during a 2012 standoff with China at Scarborough Shoal. He vowed to resign if proven false and even dared Carpio to a debate.

In response, Carpio said he was gladly accepting the challenge at the President's convenience.  The debate did not happen after advice from some of his Cabinet officials not to square off with Carpio.—LDF, GMA News