Fridays Boracay denies assaulting guards of neighboring resort
The management of a posh resort on Boracay Island has denied that its employees assaulted security guards of a resort being constructed adjacent to its property.
Fridays Boracay claimed that they were the ones attacked by security guards of Winace Holdings Philippines Inc., contractor of the One White Beach Resort.
“They're gangsters. Except for two security guards, our people were unarmed,” said Fridays Boracay general manager Natale Parisi in a telephone interview on Monday.
Parisi said they have filed criminal and civil complaints against One White Beach Resort for the alleged illegal occupation of their property and the wounding of an employee, John Venancio.
Venancio was wounded in the knee during a confrontation between security guards and workers of the two resorts last January 17 in Barangay Balabag.
One White Beach has filed a frustrated murder complaint before the Aklan Provincial Prosecutors Office against the owner of Fridays Boracay, Jose Panlilio, and 30 others for the alleged destruction of its fence surrounding its property and the shooting of their personnel.
Its chief security officer, Julio Magluyan Jr., said in his affidavit that he fired in self defense at the security guards and workers of Fridays Boracay.
But Helen Arce, Fridays Boracay administrative manager denied the allegations.
“We did not destroy their illegally-constructed fence. They are distorting what really happened. We were the ones assaulted ,” said Arce in a separate telephone interview.
Arce said part of the property being occupied by One White Beach Resort Fridays Boracay's property which they bought early last year from Expedito Tapuz.
A report of the Boracay Special Tourist Police Office said that Tapuz apparently sold the same property to One White Beach Resort triggering the land ownership dispute over the 700-square meter lot.
Arce said they have attempted to settle the issue at the baranggay council level last year but One White Beach insisted on its ownership claims.
She said it was also “unfair” for One White Beach Resort to drag their owner into the controversy.
“Mr. Panlilio was not present during the incident and did not even have any knowledge about it,” said Arce.