Australian resort owner holes up in room after take over
An Australian resort operator on Boracay Island locked himself and his family up in their apartment Wednesday night over an ownership dispute over the property he operates, police said.
But Greg Hutchinson claimed that he and his family were held hostage by "thugs" and were prevented from leaving the resort.
The Sydney-based Australian online newspaper The Australian quoted Hutchinson as saying that armed men with automatic weapons forcibly entered the Boracay Sandcastles Resort Wednesday night forcing resort staff and guests to flee.
But Supt. Arnold Argente, chief of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office (BSTPO), said it was Hutchinson who refused to leave their apartment room.
"Nobody is holding them here against there will but they refused to leave the room," Argente said in a telephone interview.
Argente said Hutchinson along with his wife Viveca and their five year-old twin children have been staying inside their second floor room and have refused to leave it until his lawyer arrives.
They were still inside their room as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday and were just given food by resort staff.
But Argente confirmed that nine security guards hired by resort owner Editha Meren entered and occupied the resort Wednesday night because Hutchinson's lease contract had allegedly been terminated.
Argente said they have been negotiating with Hutchinson to leave the room and assured his family's safety.
Hutchinson told The Australian that he is a "victim of an organized campaign to force him out of Boracay."
But the owner of the property Editha Meren said they occupied the property because of Hutchinson's refusal to leave the resort near Boat Station 2 in Barangay Balabag.
She disputed Hutchinson's claims that his family was held hostage.
"How can we do that? The police are here. Ask them yourself if Hutchinson re being held against their will," Meren said in a telephone interview.
Meren said Hutchinson's 20-year lease was supposed to end next year. But she had the contract terminated after he sub-leased part of the 6,000-square meter property without her knowledge.
Hutchinson allegedly also transferred to his name the tax declaration on an area covering 375 square meter without her knowledge.
"He also wants to sell my property and he is doing this all behind my back," said Meren.
Argente said the issue is a civil dispute and the police were only ensuring peace and the security of all parties in the dispute.