(Eagle News) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government will recommend the disqualification of local officials allegedly responsible for the Boracay mess from the 2019 elections.
“We will submit our proposal recommendation to the Comelec, kung pupuwedeng idisqualify ‘yung mga candidates, ‘yung sa last time kasi mga barangay officials so this time marami-rami ito,” DILG officer in charge Eduardo Año said.
According to Año, to be recommended for disqualification were “candidates from provincial government down to municipal.”
Among the incumbent and former local executives charged by the National Bureau of Investigation for their alleged violation of environmental laws that led to the deterioration of the once-pristine island were Malay Mayor Ceciron Cawalig and former Malay Mayor John Yap.
Authorities embarked on a massive cleanup of the island after President Rodrigo Duterte called it a “cesspool” in February.
A soft opening of the island will be held on Oct. 26.