President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to arrest any local official who will not cooperate in the government’s efforts to clean up Boracay island, a tourist resort famous worldwide.
He made the warning in his speech at the 145th founding anniversary of Tarlac and the Second Kanlungan ng Lahi or KanLAHI festival late on Wednesday.
He cited the government’s right to intervene to promote public health, public interest and law and order.
“[The] time will come when it [Boracay] is so polluted it can no longer be of use to the next generations,” Duterte said.
“It is in our interest to preserve its pristine state just like before.”
Duterte slammed the people operating resorts on the island who, he said, were nonchalant and uncooperative.
“You are responsible for the damage all these years, including some local officials,” Duterte said.
“And if you put up a fight then I’ll charge you for sedition, preventing government to do what is good for the Filipino people.
“I’m here to protect my country. I believe that if I stop this crusade, it would have compromised the country and the next generation because I did nothing.”