Calicoan remains a peaceful haven for tourists

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
February 2, 2008

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  –  Calicoan Island off Guiuan, Eastern Samar remains a peaceful haven for people including the tourists, Mayor Annaliza Kwan stressed, in reaction to news reports saying that armed men raided a resort in said island.

“I do not want people to think that Calicoan is not safe,” Mayor Kwan said. The people of Calicoan and Guiuan as a whole are hospitable and peace-loving people, Mayor Kwan added.

The incident described in the news reports that appeared in the newspapers are allegedly related to land disputes and that the alleged armed men were actually hired blue guards.

Mayor Kwan informed that at 5:00 o’clock in the morning of Saturday, she received reports that between 2 and 3 o’clock that morning, “armed men” about seven of them entered the beach house of a certain Betty Jerusalem who is in the United States and forcibly brought the three caretakers to the beach where they were covered with clothes.

The three caretakers said they heard the sound of chainsaws which were used to destroy the beach house and the adjacent beach house and cottages of the Monay Beach Resort owned by a certain Abby Garado who is also in the United States.

Mayor Kwan said she immediately dispatched several policemen to the area to investigate. The policemen reported that when they arrived at the area, the whole place was already secured with barbed wires and being guarded by blue guards.

The reported incident sprang from personal conflicts and should not dampen the enthusiasm of the tourists, Mayor Kwan said. She assured the public that everything is under control and peaceful in her town, where the best catch of fish, abalone and other seafood abound.

Calicoan Island is the flagship tourism destination of Eastern Visayas in line with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Central Philippines Super Region which is being eyed as the Center of Tourism in the Philippines.