The government has every right to close down Boracay Island, based on existing jurisprudence by the Supreme Court (SC) that declared the famous tourist destination as state-owned. An October 2008 decision of the SC had classified the island as both forest and agricultural land that belongs to the government as it junked ownership claims by several resort owners. The ruling, which stands as it has not been appealed or reconsidered, could provide legal justification to the six-month closure ordered by Malacañang for the rehabilitation of the island. It may also have legal implications upon the reported plan of the Duterte administration to allow casino resorts in the island, a court insider told The STAR.

Punay, E., Mendez, C., & Romero, P. (2018, April 9). Boracay wholly state-owned- 2008 SC ruling. The Philippine Star, p. 2.