Bohol governor, 68 others suspended for structures at Chocolate Hills

The Ombudsman has placed Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado and 68 other officials under preventive suspension for six months in connection with the investigation into structures at the Chocolate Hills, a protected area and geological park.

According to the order of implementation obtained by GMA News Online, the other officials suspended include mayors, a vice mayor, regional officers of the departments of environment and natural resources, science and technology, agriculture, the Philippine National Police, and the Office of Civil Defense.

Several barangay officials were also among those ordered suspended.

The officials were placed under "preventive suspension until the administrative adjudication of this case is terminated, but not to exceed six months without pay."

Aumentado, in a video posted on the official social media page of the Provincial Government of Bohol, said that he learned of the Ombudsman order on the morning of May 28, 2024.

He asked for prayers for a just resolution of the case.

Aumentado called on capitol workers to continue serving the people with dignity, integrity, dedication, and honesty.

"I shall return," the governor said.

Structures at geo-park

Earlier, resort development at the site of Chocolate Hills, regarded a tourism signature of Bohol, received a backlash.

A viral video of a resort in Sagbayan town situated between haycock hills, popularly referred to as Chocolate Hills, drew flak from netizens.

The video log (vlog) dated March 6, 2024 went viral as netizens mentioned that the construction of the resort in the area in 2023 was already met with criticism. Netizens pointed out that the commercial development is done within a protected area, a UNESCO Heritage Site, and a declared geo-park.

While most of the 1,776 haycock hills are found in Carmen town where the UNESCO marker is also mounted, the hills are spread out in neighboring towns such as Sagbayan, Sierra Bullones, and Batuan.

Viral since 2023

A Provincial Board member earlier expressed that with the way the issue has gone viral again, she surmised that nothing has really been done six months after an investigation on the alleged illegal structure nestled at the vicinity of Chocolate Hills. 

Atty. Jamie Aumentado Villamor, chairman of the PB Committee on Environment, said that the Board has already sent a request to DENR to hold the commercial development in abeyance.

Villamor stressed that in September 2023, the Bohol DENR-Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) ordered a stop to the construction of structures.

However, an investigation was launched by her committee based on reports of continued construction of a swimming pool, water slides, and cottages at Captain's Peak Resort.

An investigation was further carried out on other structures in Carmen town built within the national monument. — GMA Regional TV with a report from GMA Integrated News