Ombudsman looking into possible probe of Chocolate Hills resort

The Office of the Ombudsman is looking into the possible conduct of a motu proprio investigation on the controversial resort inside the Chocolate Hills protected area in Bohol, Ombudsman Samuel Martires said Friday.

Martires declined to comment further on the issue, saying that the information on hand by his office is still under review.

"May mga pangalan ibinigay sa akin kaya pinag-aaralan pa—binigay ko sa mga imbestigador para pag-aralan. If we feel that we have to investigate this motu proprio, then we will investigate motu proprio," he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(There were some names given to me that’s why we’re looking into it. I handed it to investigators to look into. If we feel that we have to investigate this motu proprio, then we will investigate.)

According to Martires, there was already a small house at the Chocolate Hills before it was declared as a protected area.

"Meron nang maliit na bahay doon sa Chocolate Hills… pero hindi resort… It was prior to 1998 bago dineclare ni President Ramos na protected area," he said.

(There was a small house there in the Chocolate Hills, but it’s not a resort. It was prior to 1998 before it was declared by President Ramos as a protected area.)

Proclamation 1037, which was issued by the late President Fidel Ramos on July 1, 1997, designated the Chocolate Hills as a National Geological Monument and Protected Landscape.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said in a statement Wednesday that if a parcel of land was titled prior to Proclamation 1037, then "the rights and interests of the landowner will generally be recognized and respected."

"However, the declaration of the area as a protected area may impose certain restrictions or regulations on land use and development within the protected area, even for privately owned lands," the DENR added.

The DENR, in the same statement, announced that it issued a temporary closure order in September 2023 as well as a violation notice in January 2024 against the resort, which is located in Barangay Libertad Norte, Sagbayan.

However, both the Sagbayan municipal government and the Bohol provincial government have said that they only learned about the DENR order last Wednesday.

The Sagbayan local government has said that it issued a building permit for the resort inside the Chocolate Hills protected area after the multi-sectoral Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) released the clearance that paved the way for its construction.

Captain's Peak Garden and Resort announced late Wednesday evening that it would temporarily close. On Thursday, 24 Oras reported that the Sagbayan government has canceled the resort's business permit to operate.

Investigations are being sought before the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the Captain's Peak Garden and Resort controversy.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has said that it would look into the accountability of local governments regarding the resort's operation.

Based on its introduction on Facebook, the Captain's Peak Garden and Resort is a "tourist destination located in the midst of the toweringthe [sic] chocolate hills in the area. It is located at Libertad Norte, Sagbayan, Bohol. You can see the closer look of the scenic chocolate hills."

Pictures and videos of the resort circulated online and drew flak on social media.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognizes the Chocolate Hills Natural Monument as part of its prestigious World Heritage List. — VDV, GMA Integrated News