Aklan execs, hotel owners charged over ‘illegal’ construction in Boracay

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday filed a graft complaint against an Aklan town mayor and other private individuals over the "illegal" construction of the Crown Regency Hotel and Convention Center in Boracay. In a four-page complaint filed before the Ombudsman, the DENR accused Malay mayor Ceciron Cawaling Cawaling, town building official Engr. Elizer Casidsid, Rafael King and the board of directors of J. King & Sons Co. Inc. of graft for pushing through with the construction of the hotel and convention center without the necessary permits and in violation of a moratorium on construction at the island resort. DENR noted that Cawaling and Casidsid still allowed J. King to build the hotel in Boracay despite a moratorium, which took effect on October 6, 2007, on the construction of structures or buildings for six months or until the Environmental Master Plan of Boracay is completed. In particular, the DENR filed charges against the accused for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft Law as well as the , Executive Order 292 or the Administrative Code, and RA 6713 or the Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. "Incidentally, the portion of Boracay Island upon which the Crown Regency was to be constructed upon was a timberland and wet land at that. Thus, the construction of the said project causes undue injury to the government and the public," the complaint, signed by DENR undersecretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering, stated. In the complaint, the DENR also noted the Crown Regency was constructed without any environmental compliance certificate. "The concerted acts of Mayor Cawaling, his building official Engr. Casidsid and the owners of Crown Regency are in utter disregard of environmental laws specifically PD 705 (revised Forestry Code) and PD 1586," the complaint said. "Moreover, despite the moratorium imposed by the Resolution, Mayor Cawaling and Engr. Casidsid miserably failed to control the construction frenzy in Boracay Island, thereby showing gross neglect of duty and gross incompetence, warranting administrative punishment by the Honorable Ombudsman," the complaint added. - GMANews.TV