GMA knew all along about AFP resort project — lawmaker

BORACAY, Aklan — President Arroyo had known all along about the construction of the military’s controversial resort in this tourist haven, an Aklan lawmaker said yesterday.

The Sampaguita Recreation Center’s existence was so top secret that even Boracay folks came to know about the soon-to-rise, 60-room rest and recreation center only when it came out in newspapers in Metro Manila last week.

Aklan Rep. Joeben Miraflores (LP) told The STAR he was present sometime last April when Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Teodosio, Armed Forces Central Visayas commander, invited Mrs. Arroyo to lead the inauguration ceremonies for the resort’s "soft-opening" at the Manok-Manok Hills.

"But the President at that time she was in Boracay had other previous engagements and so she begged off," he said.

Miraflores, who served for three consecutive terms as Aklan governor, said he was not aware that there was a military reservation in that particular part of Boracay.

"The local officials here might not even have known about it because they would come to know this if they (AFP) applied for building permits or sanitation licenses, among others," he said.

Miraflores said he was also invited to join the "soft-opening" ceremonies of the Sampaguita Recreation Center, but that he, too, declined.

"It also came as a surprise to me that there is such a facility here," he said.

At that time, 10 rooms had already been constructed at Sampaguita, purportedly financed by donations from the non-government organization KKK to provide soldiers and their families a "facility for family outing" in Boracay.

Located far from the beach, the military’s R&R facility is perched on top of the hills of Boracay.

Boracay beach resort owners interviewed by The STAR admitted they were the last to know that a military R&R facility was being built in the island.

Nenette Aguirre-Graf, who owns a beach resort in Boracay, told The STAR she came to know about the military recreation facility through the media.

On the other hand, Dr. Orlando Sacay, owner of Waling-Waling Beach Resort, has expressed apprehension over construction of the military facility during these times that the government is having fiscal problems that could seriously affect Filipinos, including lowly paid soldiers.

"It’s not something appropriate for the military," he said.

"The 60 rooms of the facility would not make a dent business-wise or tourist-wise. But they (AFP) should not be in a tourist business."

As for Edd Fuentes, Sun Village beach resort owner, he shares the sentiments of most beach resort proprietors that it was inappropriate for the Armed Forces to run a recreation facility in Boracay.

"With the meager salaries of our soldiers, we’re sure that facility would not be for their own benefit, but (for) their military superiors," he said.

However, Fuentes clarified that Boracay residents more than welcome the military and police presence in the island resort which has shielded the island against lawless elements since the Dos Palmas kidnapping incident in 2001.

Interviewed over dzMM radio last week after news about the Sampaguita Recreation Center came out, Teodosio said the facility will provide ordinary soldiers a facility where they can bring their family for rest and recreation.

Teodosio said the use of the R&R facility in Boracay will not be limited to military officers, but will be open to all enlisted personnel.

Professional managers will be hired to run it, he added.

Military troops are guarding the still unfinished Sampaguita Recreation Center.