ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The relief of the police chief of Boracay and four other policemen over a violent dispute in a land dispute on the island has drawn flak from some owners of resorts and other businesses on the island.
The business owners were concerned that the relief of Superintendent Arnold Ardiente as chief of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO) last Monday would have adverse effect among the policemen on the island and could hamper their work at a time when disputes over property claims have intensified in recent months.
"This will demoralize the police … who are only doing their jobs. They may become hesitant to act swiftly and decisively on incidents here because they could get kicked out," the business owner told the Philippine Daily Inqurier by phone on Friday on condition of anonymity to avoid being dragged into the controversy.
The business owner said many in the private sector on the island believed that Ardiente was relieved because "influential persons" were involved in the dispute between property claimant Ruth Tirol-Jarantilla and Winace Holdings Philippines Inc.
"He stepped on someone influential," the business owner said.
Ardiente was transferred to the police regional office in Iloilo City, effective last Monday, after Winace filed a complaint for alleged irregularities in the arrest and detention of its two security guards who were involved in a violent confrontation with Jarantilla's workers last May 19.
The BSTPO arrested two security guards who allegedly shot and wounded Jarantilla's workers at the disputed property in Barangay Balabag. Only one of the guards was charged with frustrated homicide but was released on May 21 after posting a P24,000 bail.
Jarantilla has been claiming ownership of a one-hectare property, part of which was used by Winace as their access road to a beachfront property where the One White Beach resort was being constructed.
Jarantilla belongs to the Tirol clan who are among the few residents of Boracay that have titled properties.
She has won ownership claim cases over the disputed property against the Tapuz family before the Kalibo Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals. The Tapuz family, who was selling the said property to Winace, has filed a petition for certiorari now pending before the Supreme Court.
Businessman Teodorico Haresco Jr., chairman of Winace Holdings, also heads the President's Bridge Program (PBP).
Western Visayas police director Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas said Ardiente was relieved because he "mismanaged" the operation in arresting the suspects in the shooting.
Cuevas said Ardiente detained the suspects and filed the complaint even if they were not caught in the act of committing a crime or in a pursuit operation. These, he said, violated police procedures.
Ardiente has denied committing any irregularities and has insisted that he was only doing his job.
Cuevas said that upon the recommendation of the Aklan Provincial Police Office, they would also relieve the four other policemen who participated in the arrest and detention so they could "go on training."
But business owners in Boracay said Ardiente was a "professional policeman" whom they found easy to deal with.
"He was just dragged into the land dispute controversy," the business owner said.
Undersecretary Virtus Gil, island administrator, said he respected the investigation being conducted by the police.
But Gil said the investigation should be conducted swiftly and that Ardiente and the other policemen should be reinstated if no irregularities will be found.
"I know (Ardiente) as a good enforcer of laws here and his relief if unwarranted will affect the community," Gil said in a telephone interview on Friday.
