SUBIC FREEPORT AREA”•The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority on Friday ordered the security guards of the new management of Ocean Adventure to vacate the theme park following their forcible entry.
“SBMA will not tolerate such act and will strictly enforce all lawful security procedures in the Freeport,” SBMA Administrator Wilma Eisma said in a statement.
“The security agency that provided the guards involved in the incident has been directed to vacate the Ocean Adventure facility and to immediately cease and desist from any and all operations within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.”
Seventy armed men allegedly stormed the Ocean Adventure facility on the night of Feb. 13 to pave the way for the new management of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium Inc. to take over.
The incident was said to have been the
result of an intra-corporate dispute that was not resolved by the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo.
“The actions taken by the new SBMEI management headed by Mr. Scott Sharpe on the evening of Feb. 13 created this irregular situation of the sudden takeover of a new security agency to man the Ocean Adventure facility with the presence of the PNP without prior coordination with the SBMA,” Eisma said.
“The SBMA Law Enforcement Department shall provide the necessary presence outside the perimeter of the Ocean Adventure facility to ensure that peace and order is maintained.”
The SBMA and the Labor Department are now coordinating to ensure the safety and welfare of the employees of SBMEI while the intra-corporate dispute is resolved.
“We reiterate that while the SBMA has no intention to involve itself in intra-corporate disputes, we will act accordingly to ensure peace and order and the rule of law within the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” Eisma said.
“As of the moment we are waiting for the judicial disposition of the intra-corporate dispute, which is not under the jurisdiction of the SBMA.”