MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would order the arrest of local government officials and resort owners of Boracay if they refuse to cooperate and protest the government’s ongoing investigation and efforts to rehabilitate the famous island. Duterte said that local executives and businessmen were responsible for the degradation of Boracay, a day after announcing that he would declare the tourist destination under state of calamity for its worsening sewage problems. “And if you put up a fight I will charge you for sedition, preventing government to do what is good for the Filipino people,” he said. The agencies were also considering to order a 60-day shutdown of establishments while authorities continue to assess businesses’ possible violations of environmental laws. Duterte had ordered Interior Officer-in-Charge Secretary Eduardo Año and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to fix the problem in six months, saying that the beautiful island has smelled of human waste.

Source: The Star March 08, 2018 02:48 UTC