STRAIT OF DUMALUAN – Anti-riot police stand by as a demolition team from the Panglao local government dismantles the gate of Marilou Resort in Barangay Bolod, Panglao, Bohol, on April 9, 2026, following the enforcement of a writ of mandamus ordering the clearing of obstructions along a barangay road closed to the public for nearly 30 years. The operation has since sparked a legal dispute between the Dumaluan Family and the municipal government over conflicting court orders. (photos by RIC V. OBEDENCIO via FB)
By DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Panglao, Bohol — A resort-owning family and the local government of Panglao municipality are locked in a legal standoff after authorities demolished the gate of a beachfront property last week, with each side brandishing a separate court order to justify its position.
The confrontation unfolded April 9, 2026 at Marilou Resort in Barangay Bolod, Panglao, when a demolition team led by Panglao Mayor Boy Arcay and Atty. Handel Lagunay of the provincial government, accompanied by anti-riot police, moved in to clear the gate and other structures of the Dumaluan Beach Resort that the local government said had been illegally blocking a barangay road for nearly 30 years.
The operation ended with a demolished gate, reports of injuries to resort personnel, and dueling official statements that have since circulated widely on social media.
Two Courts, Two Orders
At the heart of the dispute is a conflict between two separate judicial issuances from the Regional Trial Court in Tagbilaran City.
The Panglao LGU said it acted on a writ of mandamus — a court order compelling a government body to perform a duty — directing authorities to clear obstructions along the barangay road, which it described as public property.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Handel Lagunay said the writ was “final and executory,” meaning it carried the full force of a court judgment that officials were legally obligated to carry out.
Lagunay added that failing to implement the directive would have exposed them to a contempt of court citation.
The Dumaluan Family countered that a separate and valid decision from RTC Branch 49 in Tagbilaran City was already in place, explicitly enjoining the enforcement of any demolition notice against the property.
The family said authorities proceeded with the demolition in open defiance of that injunctive order.
The family said that despite the existence of a valid and subsisting court decision clearly enjoining the enforcement of the demolition notice, officials proceeded to forcibly demolish the gate of Marilou Resort.
The LGU said it was still reviewing the “scope, applicability, and legal effect” of the injunctive order at the time of the operation, noting that not all court issuances automatically suspend the execution of a separate, valid directive.
The municipal government maintained that enforcement officers are mandated to act on orders that are clear, executory, and properly served, and that any conflicting interpretations of court orders are matters best resolved before the proper courts, not in the field through resistance or obstruction.
During the demolition itself, lawyers Aleck Francis “Koykoy” Lim and Harold Bayarcal representing the Dumaluan Beach Resort were present at the scene and insisted the gate had already been excluded from the scope of the injunction.
Lagunay rejected that argument, maintaining that the gate remained an obstruction to the public road and fell squarely within the writ’s coverage.
Nearly Three Decades of Closure
DYTR News reported that the barangay road in question had been closed to the public for approximately 30 years, a detail that Mayor Arcay and provincial officials have invoked to underscore the urgency and public interest behind the operation.
Residents of Barangay Bolod reacted with relief and jubilation when the gate was finally brought down.
For many, the demolition represented the restoration of a people’s right long denied.
Arcay pledged that the April 9 operation would not be an isolated one.
He said his administration would extend the clearing drive to all barangay roads across Panglao that have been illegally closed, vowing to reopen each one to the public.
Once cleared, he said, the areas would be posted with signage declaring free public passage for all.
The demolition had originally been scheduled for March 13 but was delayed after the resort’s management sought judicial clarification on the scope of the writ.
Police Deployment, Injury Claims Disputed
The operation drew further controversy after reports surfaced that resort employees were injured during the confrontation between personnel and anti-riot police.
Panglao Police Chief Sherwin Destora denied that four employees had been hurt, saying the accounts were inaccurate.
He confirmed that a police emergency unit had been deployed to the site, saying its presence was intended to maintain peace and order and prevent the situation from escalating.
The LGU acknowledged that resistance was encountered during the operation but maintained that police were there strictly for public safety purposes.
The Dumaluan Family disputed that characterization, saying the deployment of overwhelming police force and the resulting injuries to personnel were not only excessive but unlawful, and that public officials are bound to uphold the law — not ignore it.
The LGU said it does not condone unnecessary use of force and that any allegation of excessive conduct would be subject to proper investigation in accordance with existing laws and procedures.
Legal Battle Ahead
The Dumaluan Family announced it would pursue all available legal remedies to hold those responsible accountable, saying no writ of mandamus can justify the disregard of a standing injunctive order and that court orders must be respected.
The LGU called on all parties to refrain from issuing statements that could mislead the public and to allow proper legal processes to take their course, saying it stands ready to face any legal challenge and will fully cooperate in any judicial review of its actions.
The mayor’s office said public roads cannot be lawfully obstructed, and that the government has the duty to ensure their accessibility in accordance with existing laws, ordinances, and judicial directives, adding that public interest must come first.