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No Palace order stopping West Cove resort demolition: DILG

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/05/16/bora.jpg"/><figcaption>Members of the demolition team from the Aklan government take down structures at the West Cove Resort in Boracay island, March 22, 2018. The resort allegedly operated for 4 years without a business permit and violated various provisions of the country&#x27;s environmental law, according to local authorities. <em>Mark Z. Saludes, ABS-CBN news </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The Department of the Interior and Local Government denied Wednesday that Malacañang has given the order to suspend the demolition of the controversial West Cove Resort in Boracay island. </p><p>Hotel owner Crisostomo Aquino, in a media report, claimed that he received a copy of the order to stop the demolition from the Office of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs. </p><p>&quot;Baka fake news din po iyan,&quot; DILG Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III told radio DZMM. </p><p>(That&#x27;s probably fake news.) </p><p>&quot;Wala ho kaming natatanggap na ganiyang sulat. As far as we&#x27;re concerned, as of today, tuloy-tuloy po ang pagdi-demolish ng West Cove. In fact, as of 5 minutes ago lang, may instruction pa kay [DILG] Secretary [Eduardo] Año na bilis-bilisan,&quot; he explained. </p><p>(We received no such letter. As far as we&#x27;re concerned, as of today, the demolition of West Cove continues. In fact, just 5 minutes ago Secretary Año got instructions to speed it up.) </p><p>The environment department cancelled West Cove&#x27;s permit to use forest land for tourism due to alleged violations. The resort management appealed the decision to Malacañang. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/14/18/west-cove-resort-sa-boracay-ipinasara">West Cove resort sa Boracay ipinasara</a></li></ul><p>The Office of the President&#x27;s legal affairs division wrote a letter on the issue, but only to say that it has yet to decide on Aquino’s appeal, said Densing. </p><p>He added that even if Aquino&#x27;s claim is true, Malacañang has no authority to stop the demolition because it is under the jurisdiction of the local government. </p><p>Densing also pointed out that West Cove straddles a no-build zone. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/03/14/18/local-govt-closes-west-cove-hotel-in-boracay-due-to-lack-of-permits">Local gov’t closes West Cove Hotel in Boracay due to lack of permits</a></li></ul><figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1433853" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>West Cove&#x27;s demolition comes amid the 6-month closure of Boracay, which President Rodrigo Duterte ordered after flagging <a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/31/18/boracay-waste-traced-to-illegal-sewers-pipes">inadequate sewage</a> that turned some waters into &quot;cesspools.&quot; </p><p>The government has found several pipelines discharging wastewater into Boracay&#x27;s beachfront.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/16/18/search-starts-for-another-waste-pipeline-in-boracay">Search starts for another waste pipeline in Boracay </a></li></ul><p>Several young sharks were spotted recently in Boracay&#x27;s shallow waters, an indication that the island is starting to heal, said Densing. </p><p>Authorities, he said, are also verifying reports that a forest in Barangay Yapak was flattened by construction workers. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/05/15/18/look-boracay-mountain-flattened-forest-cleared">LOOK: Boracay mountain flattened, forest cleared</a></li></ul>

<p>The Department of the Interior and Local Government denied Wednesday that Malacañang has given the order to suspend the demolition of the controversial West Cove Resort in Boracay island. </p>

The Department of the Interior and Local Government denied Wednesday that Malacañang has given the order to suspend the demolition of the controversial West Cove Resort in Boracay island.