TAGBILARAN CITY – Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado has replied to the Ombudsman recommendation for filing criminal charges against him and others allegedly involved in the illegal construction of Captain’s Peak resort within the protected Chocolate Hills area in Sagbayan town.
He said that his lawyer has already prepared to file a motion for reconsideration before the Ombudsman, which indicted him and two former provincial governors he did not name and others for violation of section 3(e) and 3(j) of the Republic Act 3019, known as Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.
He said in vernacular that he did not breach any law in this case and so with other laws.
He said that, in fact, when the Chocolate Hills issue erupted as early 2023, he immediately ordered the investigation into the fiasco, which the Captain’s Peak constructed the resort with swimming pool with the Sagbayan Mayor’s permit but no Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
It was also learned that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, then under Vice-Guv. Dionisio Victor Balite, conducted a separate probe in aid of legislation into the controversial issue on Chocolate Hills.
He also confirmed that the administrative aspect of the said case against him and others was only a reprimand.
He is hopeful that the Ombudsman will carefully study the case considering that he was not involved in said fiasco.
It will be recalled the governor and others were preventively suspended sometime in May of last year because of the Chocolate Hills in Captain’s Peak resort construction. But he and others were back to work after two months the Ombudsman lifted the suspension. (Ric Obedencio)
