By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
BORACAY — Thirty-eight people were arrested by police at the height of a commotion over a disputed property in this island resort.
They hurled stones and attacked each other using bladed weapons, according to Superintendent Jomil John Trio, deputy provincial police director for operations.
They were taken to the Boracay Tourist Assistance Center (BTAC) and were later detained in the Kalibo police station.
They were facing charges for alarm and scandal, said Senior Inspector Mark Evan Salvo, chief of BTAC.
Tension broke outside the property contested by the Palms Hotel Management and the Grand Leisure Property Development Management Corp. as early as Saturday, said Trio.
The vacant property is located in Sitio Sinagpa, Barangay Balabag.
Personnel from BTAC and Aklan Public Safety Company were manning the police assistance center at the time.
Policemen secured the area and called on the two parties to stop joining the fray, Trio said.
Come Monday, at about 3:30 p.m., the people — armed with bolos, steel pipes, hammers, and batons — started “shouting, throwing stones and attacking each other,” he said.
The commotion alarmed the residents in the area.
Police are neutral when it comes to land disputes, but, at the time, they were forced to go after the people to prevent further violence, said Trio.
No injuries or deaths were reported, but police recovered several bladed weapons.
Penalties of arresto menor or a fine not exceeding P200 are imposed on those guilty of alarm and scandal under Article 155 of the Revised Penal Code. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
