Graft, other raps filed vs 17 Aklan execs for Boracay mess

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Interior and Local Government on Wednesday filed graft and other charges against 17 officials of Aklan province and Malay town in relation to the environmental violations and unregulated and illegal development activities on Boracay Island.

Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III led the filing of administrative and criminal charges with the Office of the Ombudsman against the officials, which include Aklan Gov. Florencio Miraflores, Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, Vice Mayor Abram Sualog, eight municipal council members of Malay and the three village chiefs of Boracay Island.

Officials have earlier denied committing any violations but admitted that many problems and needs of the island required help and intervention of the national government.

The charges were filed as the six-month rehabilitation of the island entered its third month.

President Duterte ordered the closure of the island to tourists starting on April 26 after he called the island a “cesspool” due to its environmental problems.