Boracay land dispute: 38 arrested for alarm and scandal

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Police arrested 38 individuals at the height of commotion over a disputed property in Boracay Island on Monday afternoon.

The commotion ensued at around 3:30 p.m. as the people started hurling stones and attacking each other with bladed weapons, said Superintendent Jomil John Trio, deputy Aklan police provincial director for operations.

The 38 arrested individuals were inside the perimeter of the disputed property. They were being held at Boracay police station for alarm and scandal after the commotion.

“Mga hired siguro ito kasi naka-civilian ang mga naaresto,” he said in an interview. 

Trio said, “as early as Saturday, police personnel from Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) and Aklan Public Safety Company (APSC) were manning the police assistance center when tensions broke outside the contested property between The Palms Hotel Management and the Grand Leisure Property Development Management Corporation.”

The vacant property is located in Sitio Sinagpa in Barangay Balabag allegedly being claimed by two landowners, the police said. 

According to Trio, policemen secured the area last Saturday and had called the two parties to stop joining the fray. 

“In land disputes, the police at all times, are neutral. But last Monday the arrested individuals were shouting, throwing stones and attacking each other inside the disputed property,” Trio said.

The commotion resulted to alarm and danger to residents in the area. 

To prevent further violence, the PNP contingent was forced to go after the people, who were armed with bolos, steel pipes, hammer and baton.

Police recovered some bladed weapons. No injuries or deaths have been reported.

Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, chief of BTAC, said, “in the meantime, they were brought to Kalibo from Boracay Island in handcuffed and detained at Kalibo police station lock up. They will face charges for alarm and scandal before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.”

Under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code, the penalty of arresto menor or a fine not exceeding P200 are imposed for violators of alarm and scandal.