BUSINESS WITHIN THE HILLS Captain’s Peak Backyard and Resort in Sagbayan, Bohol, proven on this August 2023 photograph, has trended on social media after netizens referred to as out the federal government and its homeowners for permitting its building and operation inside the Chocolate Hills, a protected space. (File image from LEO UDTOHAN)
TAGBILARAN CITY — Suspended Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado has requested the Workplace of the Ombudsman to rethink its determination suspending him for six months.
The request comes, pending an investigation on the development of a resort on the foot of the Chocolate Hills.
Aumentado filed a movement for reconsideration that seeks to elevate the preventive suspension order issued towards him.
His legal professionals filed the attraction on June 10.
“This movement goals to guard my rights and be certain that the rules of due course of are upheld,” Aumentado mentioned in an announcement.
“The folks of Bohol deserve a authorities that’s clear and simply. I’m absolutely dedicated to defending the Chocolate Hills because it actually is a pure surprise,” he added.
He advised the Ombudsman that he had no hand within the approval of permits obtained by Captain’s Peak Backyard and Resort in Sagbayan city.
Aumentado mentioned the resort’s growth commenced in 2018 when he was nonetheless a congressman representing Bohol’s second district.
He additionally identified that he was not invited to nor had attended the Protected Space Administration Board assembly on July 14, 2022 the place the decision endorsing the event of Captain’s Peak Resort was authorized.
“I didn’t obtain any invitation and I didn’t attend this assembly. It’s not truthful to carry me accountable for choices made with out my information or participation,” he mentioned.
Aumentado mentioned there’s an absence of robust proof of guilt, a requisite for the issuance of a preventive suspension order.
“There isn’t a doc or act that hyperlinks me to the approval or help of the resort’s building, operation and enlargement. My conscience is obvious. I’ve no hand in that fiasco, in any way,” he mentioned.
Aumentado was amongst 69 authorities officers slapped with a six-month preventive suspension by the anti-graft workplace on Could 20.
The Ombudsman mentioned Captain’s Peak was constructed, operated and developed with out the required Environmental Influence Evaluation, Environmental Compliance Certificates and Particular Use Settlement in Protected Areas from the Environmental Administration Bureau of the Division of Surroundings and Pure Sources (DENR).
The resort was given permits from the mayor’s workplace and different permits for enterprise, constructing and site for the years 2020 to 2024 regardless of its repeated failure to safe the permits and clearances from the DENR.
The Chocolate Hills, the vacationer attraction of Bohol, contains 1,776 of conical hills unfold over the cities of Bilar, Carmen, Batuan, Sierra Bullones and Sagbayan.
Through the years, there have been not less than 500 institutions constructed inside the Chocolate Hills Pure Monument.
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In 1997, then President Fidel Ramos, via Presidential Decree No. 1037, declared the Chocolate Hills as a Pure Monument, to guard the realm.
