Senator Robin Padilla on Thursday, March 12, said that he has no stand on the controversial resort at the foot of Chocolate Hills, one of the country's natural resources.
In an ambush interview, Padilla said he cannot decide whether he is against or pro the matter, as people in Bohol approved the placement of a resort in the famous tourist destination.
"Hindi naman ako pwedeng magsabi kung against ako o hindi, kasi syempre gusto kong madinig muna yung mga taga-Bohol. Pero isa lang ang masasabi ko, naguguluhan ako. Kasi nakakatwa naman 'yun...," Padilla said.
Padilla, however, said that putting a resort in the middle of the hills is "very strange."
"Nagkaroon ng swimming pool parang ang hirap imagine-in. Pero syempre kailangan nating pakinggan yung mga taga-Bohol. Lugar nila 'yun eh. Pag narinig natin sila at maganda naman yung explanation nila, gusto ko lang malaman nila na very strange na may swimming pool,' he noted.
"Sana man lang naging ilog man lang 'yun. Wag naman yung ganon," he added.
'Very strange magkaroon ng swimming pool'
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 14, 2024
WATCH: Sen. Robin Padilla, naguluhan din kung paano nagkaroon ng resort sa Chocolate Hills.
Ngunit mahalagang aniya mapakinggan ang paliwanag ng mga opisyal mula sa Bohol dahil kanila ang lugar. | via RH 28 @RaymundDadpaas pic.twitter.com/qpGsTIVGgz
Meanwhile, Padilla said he forwarded his concern to the Committee on Tourism, chaired by Senator Nancy Binay.
Binay, on Wednesday, already filed a resolution urging proper senate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on the now-viral resort built at the foot of the famous tourist spot.
The resort drew flak on social media with netizens calling out the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for allowing the establishment.
The DENR, however, clarified that it issued a closure order against Captain’s Peak Resort on September 6, 2023, and a Notice of Violation to the project proponent on January 22, 2024, for operating without an Environment Compliance Certificate for the project.
In a statement, the Department of Tourism (DOT) stated that the resort was not certified by their office and that no application for accreditation was pending.
DOT noted that it has coordinated with the Bohol Provincial Government since August 2023 to “express its concerns regarding this matter,” particularly in recognizing the necessity of preserving the integrity of its natural resources.
