SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has ordered an investigation into the construction and operation of a resort in Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, which the government has declared as a protected area and which is in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.
Deputy Majority Leader for Communications and ACT-CIS Partylist Rep. Erwin Tulfo revealed the Speaker’s directive in a regular House of Representatives news briefing Tuesday.
“We are set to file on Monday a moto propio inquiry regarding that matter. Hindi rin po nagustuhan ng House leadership po iyon. I’ve been communicating with the Speaker…napag-uusapan po at nasabi ko na po sa kanya, magpa-file po tayo ng inquiry regarding this matter,” Tulfo said.
“Hindi po nagustuhan po ng liderato iyon, kasi number one, iyon po ay dineklara ng National Heritage. Kahit ano pa hong palusot, daldal po ng daldal sa social media, iyong kanilang manager duon na si Ms. Sablay…o Sablan, eh sinasabi niya hindi naman daw nila ginalaw iyong Chocolate Hills,” he said.
“The mere fact na nanduon ka, tiningan ko nga hindi nga ho nila ginalaw, nasa gitna sila ng dalawang hill, sinira ho nila iyong view. Actually, para makita mo ng maganda iyong hill na iyan, may aakyatin kang parang tore para makikita mo ngayon. Panget na hong tingnan,” he said.
Tulfo, a former journalist, likened the Captain’s Peak Resort to a wart in human face.
“Pag nasa aerial shots ka, ang pangit din, para siyang kulugo, di ba. Tumubong kulugo sa mukha mo, okay. So ang pangit ho eh kahit ano hong palusot,” he said.
He said the Speaker wants to know who are responsible for allowing the resort to open and operate in Chocolate Hills.
“Ang hindi ko ho maintindihan kaya gusto nating paimbistigahan, at gusto rin pong paimbistigahan ni Speaker, sino ang nagbigay ng permit, building permit. Kasi hindi ka naman pupuwedeng mag-construct ng kung anumang bagay dito sa Pilipinas kung wala ka pong permit. Dapat po nanggagaling po iyan sa LGU (local government unit),” he said.
He said the LGU and other concerned officials must have been aware of the construction and operation of the resort.
“Ano hong ginawa ng LGU? Kaya hindi ho nila puwedeng hindi alam…ang dami pong sisisihin diyan eh, pati iyong provincial government, akalain mo nag-party pa pala sila kung hindi ba naman mga luko-luko,” he added.
Tulfo pointed out that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and his field personnel also have a lot of explaining to do.
“Pag mga ganun po na mga ika nga heritage site, tourist attraction, iyan po ay may mga park rangers, kung tawagin ng DENR, sila po iyong nagbabantay diyan. Ang tanong ko, nasaan iyong park ranger ng DENR?” he asked.
“May palusot pa nga ho akong nakita eh, kasi nabili niya daw pagma-may-ari, I don’t give a crap, kung iyan po ay binili mo. Maski na binili mo iyan, pag-aari pa rin iyan kahit papano. Sinabi na nga National Heritage. Huwag mong tayuan ng kung anu-anong kabalbalan iyan, kasi nga po iyan po ay para hanggang sa susunod na henerasyon. Huwag mo naman, dahil nakabili ka ng lupa, kung sino man iyong…nagbenta ng lupa diyan, ay 1995 pa idineklara iyan eh,” he added.
The House leader said agencies and officials with accountability on the matter also include the Land Registration Authority, which is in charge of the titling of lands.
“Bakit napa-tituluhan po iyan? So marami pong ahensiya. Magiging busy po ang Congress siguro after we file the moto propio inquiry. Hindi po tayo papayag, marami pong nagagalit,” he said.
For his part, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Ray Reyes said he supports the projected inquiry.
“Kasi nasabi na National Heritage ito, UNESCO National Heritage site ito. Sige sabihin natin na iyong ibang bahagi ng Chocolate Hills may titulo na nga…hindi dahil may titulo ay ano ito blanket license po ito na puwede ninyong gawin kahit ano sa lupa ninyo. Hindi ganun iyong pagkakaintindi po natin ng pagkakaroon po ng lupa,” he said.
