Aklan “tit for tat” with 4 Bicol Congressmen thrown into Boracay waters

by Joey Natividad
Senior Editor

Aklan’s tit for tat with 4 Bicol Congressmen was over.

The Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 withdrew its resolution declaring 4 Bicol Congressmen as “Persona non Grata” and declared it without “force and effect” after the Bicol lawmakers had withdrawn the House Bill they sponsored that would place world famous tourism spot, Boracay, under government intervention which might affect tourism business.

In retaliation, the Aklan legislative body declared four Bicol Congressmen as “Persona non Grata” for allegedly intervening in Aklan affairs, forcing the 4 Bicol lawmakers on that same day, to withdraw its House Bill over fear from an impending backlash.

Declared “Persona non Grata” by the Aklan Provincial Government on Monday, August 8, 2022 are Congressman Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte (2nd District Of Camarines Sur), Congressman Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata (1st District Of Camarines Sur), Congressman Miguel Luis R. Villafuerte (5th District Of Camarines Sur), and Bicol Saro Representative Congressman Nicolas C. Enciso VIII.

On the same day, the 4 Bicol solons withdrew the bill from the House Committee which formally received the communique.

The 4 Bicol solons’ action has angered the Aklan Provincial Government after they filed a bill, or proposed law that will place Boracay under government intervention.

The bill filed, House Bill No. 1085 or Proposing The Creation Of A Boracay Island Development Authority As A Government-Owned And Controlled Corporation (GOCC) is allegedly similar to House Bill No. 09286 that was junked in the previous 18th Congress.

The bill had rubbed the sentiment of the provincial government as having been “bypassed” and lack of respect for the Aklan leadership and constituency from the lawmakers over the filing of the said bill.

The Aklan Provincial Government believes the creation of BIDA GOCC is “catastrophic” and its effect “irreversible” on the socio-economic well being of Aklanons.

The 4 Bicol congressmen had withdrawn the said bill, sending an official communication to Congressman Manuel Jose Dalipe, Chairman, Committee on Rules and Majority Floor Leader and 2nd District Cong. Teodorico Haresco, Jr. of Aklan which was only received on August 8.