All 69 officials suspended over Chocolate Hills Resort

By: Morexette Marie B. Erram – 13 mins ago

Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan, Bohol, seen in this August 2023 photo, is trending on social media after netizens criticized the government and its owners for allowing its construction and operation in the Chocolate Hills, a protected landscape. —LEO UDTOHAN

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The case surrounding the controversial resort in Bohol’s famous Chocolate Hills was unprecedented.

A total of 69 officials and government employees – from Governor Erico Aris Aumentado down to the barangay level – were preventively suspended for six months for allowing the construction of the resort amidst this iconic natural wonder.

READ: Bohol governor and 68 others suspended for 6 months

The Ombudsman stated in a 22-page decision that there was “strong evidence” of serious misconduct, gross breach of duty and conduct detrimental to the interests of the service against the defendant.

READ: Chocolate Hills Resort: Bohol governor urges DENR to take legal action as soon as possible

“Based on the above parameters and following the initial assessment of the complaint and its annexes, this Office considers it justified to provisionally suspend the public respondents pending the investigation of this complaint,” the document states in part.

READ: Bill sets rules for Chocolate Hills in Bohol

The verdict was announced on May 20, 2024.

The reason for this is the legal proceedings initiated against them because they allowed the construction of a resort called Captain’s Peak within the Chocolate Hills National Monument, a nature reserve, pictures and videos of which were recently circulated on the Internet.

READ: DENR chief: Illegal buildings in Chocolate Hills must be removed

Those interviewed included high-ranking officials such as Aumentado, several mayors in Bohol, and even officials from national government agencies.

The names alone took up 13 pages of the case.

Below is the full list of officers and staff who have been given the six-month preventive suspension.

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