By Helen Castaño | 09:00 PM June 04, 2024
A prayer vigil was held Monday at the provincial Capitol of Bohol to rally in prayer behind the embattled Gov. Aris Aumentado, mayors and punong barangays who were suspended for six months over the Chocolate Hills fiasco.
It was attended by Capitol employees headed by acting governor Victor Balite who joined the rosary. The same scene was held in most local government units all over the province.
It culminated with a candle lighting ceremony.
Aumentado and 68 other public officials have been placed under suspension for six months over the controversial The Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort in Sagbayan town.
The Ombudsman Field Investigative Office said the respondents “acted with manifest partiality, evident bad faith, gross inexcusable negligence and committed gross violations of the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992 (NIPAS Act of 1992) and Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 (E-NIPAS Act of 2018) when they remained adamant and continuously tolerated the operation and expansion of Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort despite its lack of environmental clearance permits and flagrant violations of the NIPAS and E-NIPAS Act.”
