Raps filed vs 11 people for takeover of Boracay resort

MANILA, Philippines - Boracay police filed Tuesday criminal complaints against a property owner and 10 other persons who forcibly took over a resort operated by an Australian on the island resort. Online news site Visayan Daily Star reported that the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office filed the complaints before the Aklan Provincial Police Office. Charged with two counts of grave coercion and two counts of robbery with violence or intimidation against persons were Editha Meren, owner of the lot where the disputed property is located and Evangeline Dalino, former sub-lessee of Boracay Sandcastles Resort operator Greg Hutchinson. Also named respondents were Roberto Agsulio Jr., Rizaldy Salmos, Aries Aganon, Marvin Melegrito, Andres Gabato Jr., Romeo Alcantara, Hercris Natividad, Eric Dizon and Arman Dizon. Boracay police claimed the respondents forcibly entered the resort by breaking open the glass door and pointing guns at security guard Adier Elorde and at Melchor Ferrer, nephew of Hutchinson's wife Viveca. The armed security guards hired by Meren and Dalino then took over the property Wednesday night, claiming legal control over the property and because Hutchinson allegedly refused to leave the resort despite the termination of their lease agreement. But Hutchinson claimed the takeover was illegal because the 20-year lease agreement he entered into with Meren in 1980 and extended by 10 years until 2019 is still in effect. The Hutchinson couple and their 5-year-old twins had been holed up at their third-floor apartment room since the takeover. On the other hand, police also filed two complaints of robbery with violence or intimidation of persons against the respondents for the alleged loss of Ferrer's cellular phone worth P7,000; P1,600 cash' knapsack, bag, pair of shoes, belt, and rice cooker amounting to P3,500. Meren said it is up to their lawyer to respond to the complaint. "We believe we are the legal owners and occupants of the property," Meren said. - GMANews.TV