Yap: I warned the owner

BORACAY — Malay Mayor John Yap said he earlier warned the owner of the hotel-resort that he ordered closed on Friday afternoon.

“I asked Aquino to stop developing his property. Yet he continued,” said Yap, so he decided to order the “closure, removal and demolition of illegal structures and building of West Cove Hotel and Resort.”

Yap was referring to the business establishment’s owner, Crisostomo Aquino.

He said he has been talking to Aquino since last year.

Aquino was known to be a business partner of boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

Yap ordered the hotel-resort closed for having no business permit and occupancy permit from the local government unit (LGU).

‘NO WAY’

The hotel-resort’s general manager, Ben Hur Mobo III, received the closure order served


CLOSED.

Men are putting up a signage indicating that the West Cove Hotel and Resort in Malay, Aklan was ordered closed.
on Friday afternoon.

The business establishment was then allowed to receive guests only until Friday evening.

But according to Mobo, they did not fail to secure a permit from the LGU.

In fact, he said they have passed all the necessary requirements to the Municipal Hall.

It was the LGU who failed to process the permit due to what they called zoning violations, Mobo said.

“Our lawyers do not recognize the (LGU’s) order. We demand closure order from the court. We will uplift the closure order in a legal way,” Mobo stressed.

About 40 police personnel and a team from the LGU served Municipal Executive Order No. 10 Series of 2011.

According to Yap, the hotel-resort violated Presidential Decree 1096 or the National Building Code.

In his order dated June 7, 2011, Yap said: “In view of your unjustified refusal to comply with the aforecited law or ordinance, this office hereby orders the permanent closure or your establishment without prejudice to the demolition or removal of said illegal erected building or structure at your expense.”

“Mindful that the Island of Boracay is a premier tourist destination, this office has the obligation to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare, consistent with the principles of sound environmental management and control,” the mayor added.