both the lessee and the resort-owner do not want to leave the apartment in Boracay

Miami
November 10, 2008
Story: both the lessee and the resort-owner do not want to leave the apartment in Boracay

The land dispute in the tourist island in Boracay continues as both camps of the resort owner and the lessee remain holed-up in different floors of the apartment.

Editha Meren who is staying at the ground floor of Sand Castle claimed she has the right to take over the management of the resort since the lease contract of Greg Hutchinson was already terminated since October 2007.

On the other hand, Hutchinson maintained he could still managed the resort as provided for in the contract he signed with Meren last 1989 indicated that he has still 11 years to stay since the contract is valid until 2019. The Australian couple is the one running the Sand Castle as part of the contract they have with Meren. Hutchinsion is occupying the second and third floor. Police said they put a barrier at the first floor so that Meren will not be able to go upstatirs.

In an effort to address the conflict, Hutchinsion through his lawyer will file violation on status quo against Meren for trying to occupy the premises.

With the continuing problem, the police are forced to secure the area to prevent any confrontation between the two parties.

The police are not making any actions or trying to ask the two parties to leave the place because their problem “is legal matter.”

“It is the Court who can decide on this issue,” Supt. Arnold Ardiente, Chief of Police of Boracay said.

Hutchinsion earlier claimed he and his family were held hostage by the group of Meren but Ardiente, reported that there is no hostage taking happening. In fact, the Australian and his family is the one who do not want to go out of the apartment-type house that they are staying. Aside from the couple, their twins are also inside the house, but the police cannot confirm the genders of the twins.

Ardiente said the tension started Wednesday night, at around 10:20 p.m. when Meren, a Filipina, wants to talk Hutchinson, his Filipina wife Viveca to inform them that they their lease contract had been terminated already.

Meren was the one who informed the police that she already terminated the contract with the Hutchinson since October 2007. However the police cannot get the comment of the Hutchinson because the family is refusing to talk to anyone.