Police chief will face charges of Boracay resort

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The police chief of Boracay Island will face squarely the charges by a Boracay beach resort, he stressed over Barangay 92.9 Super Radyo Kalibo.

PHOTO BY CHRISTOPHER MENDOZA

In a news report, the management of La Carmela de Boracay is said to file charges against the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) and its police chief Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo in relation to an incident involving its hotel workers last February 26.

“Wala akong magagawa dahil karapatan nila if they filed the charges, pero haharapin at sasagutin ko yan. Pumunta ako dito (sa Boracay) dahil sa trabaho lang, kahit saan ako itapon na police assignment, trabaho lang ako,” he stressed.

“Tanggap ko na rin na me imbestigasyon, alam ko wala akong ginawang mali,” Salvo said in his reaction that Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores has requested the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) to conduct an investigation.

Salvo said the three hotel workers of La Carmela de Boracay were apprehended by the police assigned near the Ati community for illegally trespassing. They were then turned-over to BTAC.

A complaint by some Ati members was filed at Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Kalibo, Aklan but the three workers were subsequently released.  

“Ang violation nila ay illegal trespassing dahil sa pag-aari ng Ati village ang naturang lupa,” said Salvo, who hails from Bicol.

Salvo also talked about the incident involving the resort vehicle and BTAC patrol service vehicle, which happened last year.

“Unang-una hindi naman nasira ang sasakyan, me pictures kami na magpapatunay nito. Ang pintuan sa likod ng van nila ay nahagip ng bubong ng sasakyan ng BTAC. Na-disaligned lang, wala namang nabasag,” Salvo added.

“Hindi kasi pumayag ang lawyer ng resort na masettle sa mababang halaga at ito lamang ay nasettle sa P50,000. Nag-ambag ambag ang mga pulis namin dahil hindi naman kaya ng pulis-driver na yun ang amount. Saka wala kaming budget sa ganoon. Merong kaming acknowledgement receipt na nasettled na yun sa P50,000,” he clarified.

Salvo said, “mga tao ko dito ay walang personal grudges sa La Carmela, although gumastos sila.”

To justify his statement, Salvo said, “may ilan pang responde ang pulis natin regarding sa concern ng isang guest nila na may natutulog na tao sa balkonahe ng kuwarto, tumawag sila sa pulis at pinuntahan naman ng BTAC.”

“Mas lalo na ako walang grudges sa kanila. Parang retroactive pa ang mga insidente dito, last year ng August pa yun, kasi hindi pa ako naassigned sa BTAC ng nangyari ang banggaan."

Salvo said he also didn’t know personally the owner of La Carmen Boracay, adding, “hindi ko pa nga na-meet si Mr. Boy So, ang may-ari ng La Carmela,”

Only on his three weeks as BTAC police chief, Salvo said he is also facing another charges arising from a property dispute in Barangay Balabag.

He did not, however, elaborate the details during the radio interview by Barangay 92.9 Super Radyo Kalibo.

For his appeal, Salvo said, “sa ating kapulisan ipinaabot ko kanila ang suporta pag tama ang ginagawa nila, kahit makasuhan pa ako. Sana naman huwag ng ungkatin ang mga insidente na wala pa ako dito nassigned sa Boracay.”

“Kasi wala naman akong vested interest sa Boracay except magtrabaho lang,” Salvo concluded.