Subic theme park execs deplore ‘harassment’ of boss

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines – Officials of Ocean Adventure, a marine theme park here, on Sunday deplored what they described as harassment of their boss by a former member of the company’s board of directors.

In a press statement, Gail Laule, executive vice president of Ocean Adventure, said Virginia delos Santos-Dio filed estafa charges against chief executive officer Tim Desmond after failing to take control of the company.

Laule said Dio has been harassing Desmond for over a decade and has resorted to unethical means to get what she wanted.

Laule described the charges against Desmond as an attempt to disrupt the company and force its officials to give in to Dio’s demands. 

“The claims of Dio that Desmond diverted company funds for his personal benefit are preposterous,” Laule said.

Laule said the current board of directors of the Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI), which owns Ocean Adventure, is supporting Desmond in the case against Dio.

She said the board has authorized her to function as officer-in-charge of Ocean Adventure to stop Dio from disrupting the company’s operations. 

Laule’s statement came after an Olongapo judge issued on Nov. 4 warrants for Desmond’s arrest for the syndicated and simple estafa charges filed by Dio.

The court set no bail for the syndicated estafa charges while a bail of P80,000 set for the simple estafa case.

In her complaints, Dio alleged that Desmond defrauded her of some $2.15 million.

In June this year, the Supreme Court reinstated the criminal cases versus Desmond, which were earlier dismissed by the Court of Appeals and the Olongapo City court.  – With Ric Sapnu