Meanwhile, the photo of a leaking sewage pipe quickly prompted a cease-and-desist order issued by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paza Radaza against the Imperial Palace last Oct. 1.
The hotel, however, continues to operate after it complied with City Hall's instruction to immediately shut off its valves to the sewage pipe.
Hotel management said it would issue a full statement in a press conference this week.
City Hall acted after getting results of water quality tests by a private laboratory that showed the coliform count near the pipe leak exceeded the tolerable limit of 10,000 MPN/100ml.
The coliform count is a crucial indicator of how clean and safe is the coastal water for swimming, bathing, diving and other human activity.