BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has recommended criminal charges against a beach resort in Bohol after an investigation revealed unauthorized quarrying activities and foreshore encroachment that violated several environmental and land use laws.
The NBI’s Bohol District Office has submitted a comprehensive report, recommending formal investigation of Lansijang Beach Resort owner, a certain Roane Tutor Muring and other personnel for unauthorized quarrying and construction violations in Barangay Virgen, Anda, Bohol.
Tutor Moring, alleged owner of the multi-million resort under investigation, reportedly works at Candijay Sand and Gravel Supply.
The investigation was launched following a viral Facebook video showing heavy equipment – specifically a backhoe with jackhammer drill – operating on a beach shoreline within the resort premises.
The footage prompted the NBI director to order an immediate investigation into the activities.
During a clarificatory conference conducted by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Talibon on April 4, 2025, resort officials made several admissions about the unauthorized activities.
Resort owner Tutor Muring and project engineer Richard Perez confirmed that management ordered the crushing of shoreline boulders, purportedly for safety reasons.
However, both officials disclaimed direct supervision, attributing the decision to a “former project-in-charge.”
The investigation revealed the quarrying activities allegedly occurred in the fourth quarter of 2023, contrary to public belief that the incidents happened in 2024.
The crushed stone aggregates were used for construction projects, including riprapping a cliff area within the resort; constructing stairs in an adjacent lot at the alleged request of maritime patrol (bantay dagat) members; and various structural improvements, with some crushed materials remaining in the sea.
Resort representatives insisted no commercialization of the aggregates occurred and denied any coral damage, though no marine impact assessment was conducted to verify these claims.
Meanwhile, LGU Anda conducted its own inspection based on people’s complaints and found the resort in violation of several regulations: construction beyond building permit limits; encroachment within the 20-meter legal easement zone; and unauthorized cantilever decking over the foreshore area.
LGU Anda subsequently issued a Notice of Violation to the resort.
The NBI report identified violations of numerous Philippine environmental and land use laws including: Republic Act 7942 (Philippine Mining Act of 1995): Unauthorized quarrying using heavy equipment in public domain areas violated quarry permit requirements and constituted mineral theft;
Presidential Decree 1586 (Environmental Impact Statement System Law): Failure to secure Environmental Compliance Certificate prior to environmentally critical activities in the foreshore zone;
DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-24: Absence of required Foreshore Lease Agreement for structures or alterations within foreshore areas;
Republic Act 8550 as amended by RA 10654 (Philippine Fisheries Code): Failure to conduct marine impact assessment despite potential environmental damage; and
Local Government Code (RA 7160): Violation of zoning regulations and building code restrictions.
Despite clear admissions of unauthorized activity during the CENRO clarificatory conference, no administrative or criminal charges were filed against the resort.
The NBI report criticized this inaction, saying it “represents a failure in regulatory enforcement” and raises “questions on possible negligence or dereliction of duty.”
The investigation report recommended several actions including:
Criminal Investigation: Formal investigation of resort owner Muring and other personnel to determine individual criminal liabilities related to the unauthorized quarrying and construction activities;
Administrative Investigation: Fact-finding investigation of CENRO Talibon officials for possible violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, citing “gross inexcusable negligence” in failing to initiate legal proceedings despite public outcry and official admissions;
Ombudsman Referral: Referral to the Office of the Ombudsman for appropriate criminal, administrative, and disciplinary proceedings against government officials found remiss in their duties;
Environmental Assessment: Coordination with DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Environmental Management Bureau for environmental assessment of the affected area, including possible coral or marine habitat damage; and
Cease and Desist Order: Coordination with DENR-EMB for issuance of a Cease and Desist Order and consideration of demolition or removal of structures violating the 20-meter salvage zone and other regulations.