The Office of the Ombudsman, led by Samuel Martires, is contemplating an independent (motu proprio) investigation into the contentious establishment of a resort within the Chocolate Hills protected zone in Bohol. Martires has received specific information and names related to the issue, which are currently under assessment to determine the necessity of an investigation.
The Chocolate Hills, declared a protected area in 1997 by then-President Fidel Ramos, are under scrutiny due to concerns about a resort built in Barangay Libertad Norte, Sagbayan. Although there was a small structure on the site before its designation as a protected landscape, the development of a full-scale resort has sparked legal and environmental debates.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has previously issued a temporary closure and a violation notice to the resort, stressing that while pre-existing land titles are respected, stringent regulations govern land use within protected areas. Despite these actions, local authorities in Sagbayan and Bohol province claimed to be unaware of these orders until recently.
The resort, known as Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, has decided to close temporarily following the controversy. Meanwhile, local governmental actions, including the issuance of a building permit after clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), have come under scrutiny. This has led to calls for investigations by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is also evaluating the local governments’ roles in the resort’s operations. The controversy, amplified by social media exposure, has raised significant public and legal interest, given the Chocolate Hills’ status as a nationally significant geological monument and a site recognized by UNESCO.