Agho Island

Agho

Beach facilities at the island in 2010
Agho

Location within the Philippines

Geography
Coordinates 11°13′34″N 123°11′42″E / 11.22611°N 123.19500°E / 11.22611; 123.19500Coordinates: 11°13′34″N 123°11′42″E / 11.22611°N 123.19500°E / 11.22611; 123.19500
Archipelago Concepcion Islands
Adjacent bodies of water Visayan Sea
Area 0.09 km2 (0.035 sq mi)
Country
Region Western Visayas
Province Iloilo
Municipality Concepcion

Agho Island is a small, mostly uninhabited island in northeastern Iloilo, Philippines. It is part of the municipality of Concepcion.

Location and geography

Agho Island is 7 nautical miles east of Panay Island in the Visayan Sea. It is in a channel between Igbon Island and Malangabang Island.[1] Quiniluban Island is to the northwest. The island is home to tropical birds, including sea hawks and Tabon birds.[2]

History

Japanese soldiers landed on Agho during World War II, although they did not stay as they has a garrison in nearby Bagungon Island. The island is currently owned by the Villarias clan, who own the island's resort and sari-sari store.

In 1980 or 81, an couple arrived on Agho Island with the claim that the island has been given to them by then-president Ferdinand Marcos. This couple, variously American[2] or Australian[3] and named as Thomas and Terry Cook[2] or Kurt,[3] hired locals to build a cottage on Agho. At first, relations between the couple and the locals were friendly; however, after the cottage was completed the couple posted an armed guard and dogs on the property to keep out intruders.[3] Tensions between the couple and the locals grew and eventually the authorities were called in. On 19 August 1988, Narcom (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) found 1,000 plants on the property that were believed to be cocoa plants, although some officials disputed this claim.[3] The couple had left the island two years earlier,[3] after Marcos's fall from power.[2]

Transport

Agho is a 30-minute pumpboat ride from Concepcion.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey, Reuben Jacob Christman (1919). United States Coast Pilot, Philippine Islands, Part 1. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 225. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Villa, Hazel. "Agho Island: a dreamy island of many stories and surprises". Yahoo News. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Vidal, Alex. "Did Narcom commit a mea culpa in Concepcion, Iloilo ‘coca’ plant?". Retrieved 23 June 2014.

External links

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