By Marisol Bo-oc | 11:57 AM November 24, 2023
Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay on Wednesday ordered the closure of a resort that was found violating safety protocols.
In a statement released on his official Facebook page, Arcay said the indefinite suspension of the business permit of Espacio Resort in Barangay Danao was directly related to the tragic drowning incident involving a Korean national last November 13.
“Given the gravity of the situation and the loss of life involved, it is imperative that a thorough investigation is conducted to ascertain the circumstances leading to this unfortunate event. It is crucial that during this period of suspension, all operations at Espacio Resort are ceased until further notice. The suspension will remain in effect while the investigation is ongoing, and until a conclusive determination is made regarding the incident,” said Arcay in his letter addressed to the resort.
“The safety and security of all guests and visitors in our municipality remain our top priority, and we must ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
Please understand that this decision is not made lightly but is necessary to uphold the standards of safety and compliance expected of all businesses operating within Panglao,” he added.
Karen Valiente, officer-in-charge of Espacio Resort, explainer their side regarding the drowning incident.
They acknowledged the gravity of the situation and apologized for the absence of the lifeguard.
To unfortunate incidents in the future, Valiente said they are taking immediate corrective actions, including: new licensed lifeguard to ensure the safety of our guests at all times, enhanced surveillance by adding more CCTV cameras around the pool area for improved monitoring and swift response to potential risks, and adequate signages around the pool area to furnish guests with vital safety information and guidelines.
“Our commitment to the safety and well-being of our guests remains paramount. We deeply regret any distress caused by this incident and want to assure you that we are exhaustively addressing this matter to prevent future occurrences,” said Valiente in her letter addressed to Arcay.
Yongjun Cho, 39, a Korean national was found at the bottom of the swimming pool by a resort staff at around 6:30 p. m. on Nov. 13.
Initial investigation revealed that the victim together with his wife Kim Kyoung with their two children (both minors) were bonding at the swimming pool area.
Accordingly the victim sipped some liquor beverage before he doved for a swim but failed to float back for few minutes which prompted his wife to check for him.
The wife together with the resort staff tried to revive the victim but unfortunately he was declared dead by the municipal health officer However, the wife decided to bring her husband to Gov. Celestino Gallares Medical Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City but he was declared dead on arrival.
