MALACAÑANG said President Rodrigo Duterte might order the "use (of) dynamites" to destroy "illegal" facilities on Boracay Island in the Visayas.
Speaking to Palace reporters on Thursday, March 15, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. alluded to drastic measures to rehabilitate Boracay.
"The last that I heard is that the local government may even ask the President for assistance to call in the marines, if need be," he said.
"So when I heard that report, I told them, 'Send the letter because I'm sure the President will not hesitate to send the marines and even use dynamites to blow up the illegal structures there,'" the Palace official added.
On March 6, the President announced that he might declare a state of calamity in Boracay, in a bid to fast track the rehabilitation of the resort island.
Duterte is pushing for the rehabilitation of Boracay, which has been plagued with waste management and sewage problems.
On March 7, Duterte threatened to arrest local officials who will not cooperate with the national government, which was instructed to restore the famous beach destination to its pristine condition within six months.
Tasked by Duterte to clean up Boracay in six months, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has since inspected Boracay and ordered the demolition of illegal structures on the renowned island.