Businessman Christophe Bariou and actress Nadine Lustre say they’ve become targets of harassment after refusing a ₱50-million extortion demand tied to the controversial Union-Malinao Bridge project.
In an Instagram post, Christophe, a resident of Siargao for 11 years, accused unnamed local officials’ representatives of intimidation after he and Nadine publicly opposed the bridge.
“Individuals claiming to represent certain politicians approached Nadine and me offering to ‘resolve’ the bridge issue if we provided ₱50 million in cash,” he wrote, adding that Nadine refused firmly. “We don’t make deals with corruption… ever.”
He described a campaign of pressure against his businesses that included random inspections, abrupt permit holds, and unauthorized soil testing on his land. Staff were allegedly intimidated for documenting such actions.
Though he has filed legal complaints and sought intervention from national agencies including DPWH, Christophe warned that silence only enables corruption.
“Accountability is needed from all sides,” he said, calling for investigations to protect Siargao’s environment and its people.
Read his full statement here:https://www.instagram.com/cbariou/p/DPoQDwaEmXg/?img_index=1
