ID controversy in Boracay lingers

BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Filipino tourists were not allowed to enter this island for six months, but some foreigners were seen swimming and frolicking on the beach.

Why is this happening?

The Boracay Task Force had announced that only residents were allowed to swim in Station 1 of White Beach here, which was heavily guarded by police and the coast guard.

INQUIRER.net spotted foreigners at the resident-only swimming area.

Two staff of a posh residential resort here told INQUIRER.net that those were not tourists but residents of the islands staying at their establishment.

The staff, who requested anonymity for lack authority to speak, said some of their guests had long-term reservation and were issued residential identification required to go in and out of Boracay.

Asked about the matter, Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, Western Visayas police director, said the police also monitored entry of foreigners with resident IDs.

“Actually hindi lang diyan ‘yung tanong namin. Pagdating pa lang sa jetty port may ID sila. Ang rule ay kapag meron silang ID, we have to respect it,” Binag said in an ambush interview.

(We’re not only asking about the beach access. At the jetty port, some foreigners present IDs. The rule is, if you have ID, you will be allowed entry.

Binag said they would ask the barangay why some foreigners have resident ID.

“Basta the rule is residente. Hindi sila turista, residente sila so okay,” he added.

Weeks before the closure, thousands of residents rushed to their village offices to apply for a resident ID.

The issuance of Boracay resident IDs was embroiled in controversy after it was alleged that the IDs were being sold.

Boracay’s local residents pay P200 for the ID while non-locals and foreigners pay P250 and P500, respectively./ac