Shocker! Bohol Officials Sacked Over Chocolate Hills Resort Scandal!

Manila, Philippines - In a major crackdown, the Office of the Ombudsman has fired three Sagbayan, Bohol officials over the controversial construction of a private resort in the iconic Chocolate Hills!

Mayor Restituto Suarez III, Zoning Administrator Maximo Lomosbog, and Municipal Building Official Alan Dinoy were found guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. They were booted from office, stripped of retirement benefits, and barred for life from holding public positions.

The fallout didn’t stop there. Several DENR and PAMB officials were also dismissed, including:

• Laurentino Bautista – DENR officer-in-charge & Protected Area superintendent

• Lorna Fernandez – PAMB secretariat & assistant Protected Area superintendent

• Gilbert Gonzales – PAMB chairman

• Paquito Melicor – DENR Central Visayas regional director

  
  

Other fired officials include Tito Ancog, Paulino Amodia, Jose Douglas Berenguel, Lito Bonajos, Rogaciana Caduyac, Maria Fe Jala, Betsy Jumamoy, Adelo Mangaya-ay, Ariel Rica, and Ceferino Tajo.

In addition, 22 barangay captains were suspended for simple misconduct as part of the investigation.

The scandal centers on Captain’s Peak Resort, which went viral online after it was built inside a protected area of the Chocolate Hills — a site recognized as a National Treasure by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Ombudsman authorities say this is a clear warning: no one is above the law when it comes to protecting the country’s natural treasures!