Governor of Bohol, 68 other people suspended

Investigation of Chocolate Hills Resort

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Bohol Governor Aris Aumentado and 68 others, including mayors, on precautionary suspension for six months without pay in connection with the investigation into the controversial construction of the Captain’s Peak Resort at the foot of the Chocolate Hills.

The Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Office (FIO) publicly alleges that the respondents engaged in serious misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the interests of the service in connection with the construction, operation and expansion of the Captain’s Peak Resort in Canmano, Sagbayan, Bohol, a property located in the midst of the iconic Chocolate Hills National Monument (CHNM) protected area in Bohol.”

The resort does not have an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and a Special Use Agreement in Protected Areas (SAPA) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The Ombudsman FIO said the “public respondents acted with obvious partiality, manifest bad faith and gross inexcusable negligence and committed gross violations” of the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, 1992 and the amended NIPAS Act, 2018.

Preventive suspension may be imposed when the evidence of guilt is strong and the charge against the officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression, grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty; the charge would justify removal from service or the continued retention of the accused in office could prejudice the proceedings pending against him/her under Section 24 of Republic Act 6770.

In a text message to The STAR, Ombudsan Samuel Martires confirmed that his office issued a preventive suspension order against Aumentado and other local officials in Bohol on May 22.

Martires said the order was signed on his behalf by Special Prosecutor Edilberto Sandoval, who was on official leave at the time.

The Ombudsman also said that the stay would be “immediately enforceable”, regardless of any applications, appeals or petitions by the defendants, unless lifted by the Ombudsman himself or by a competent court.

The office of Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. was tasked with implementing the suspension order.
Aside from Aumentado, the preventive suspension of the heads of government of several towns in Bohol was also ordered, namely: Restituto Suarez III of Sagbayan, Antonino Jumawid of Batuan, Elizabeth Pace of Catigbian, Eugenio Ibarra of Clarin, Norman Palacio of Bilar, Manuel Jayectin, former mayor of Bilar, Ranulfo Maligmat, vice mayor of Bilar, Michael Doria, mayor of Sierra Bullones, Simplico Maestrado Jr., mayor of Valencia, Dionisio Neil Balite, Conchita Delos Reyes, mayor of Carmen, and Ricardo Toribio, former mayor of Carmen.

Also suspended were DENR-EMB Regional Director Ma. Victoria Abrera and DENR Region 7 Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) Regional Director Gilbert Gonzales.

Also suspended were several barangay officials as well as regional officials of the Civil Defense Office, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Agriculture.

The Chocolate Hills Natural Monument in Bohol is a legally protected area.

The island of Bohol has also been declared a UNESCO Global Geopark and is the only tourism area in the country to receive this coveted title.

During a hearing before the Senate’s joint committees on the environment and the committee on local government, the Land Registry confirmed that 5,652 properties covering 7,860 hectares in the Chocolate Hills have already been registered with title. — Elizabeth Marcelo