Mr Naphat, an Inspector General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), said the issues had attracted widespread public attention and directly affected Phuket’s reputation.
Mr Naphat explained he had been assigned by DOPA to perform additional duties in Phuket on a special basis while retaining his role overseeing Regions 6 and 7, which cover the Andaman coast provinces and the southern border provinces respectively.
Mr Naphat denied he was a stooge for officials in Bangkok, saying that his appointment was intended to ensure provincial administration was conducted in accordance with the law and regulations while strengthening public confidence in government operations and complaint mechanisms.
Mr Naphat said he had instructed all relevant agencies to coordinate their efforts and conduct thorough investigations into the three issues, with a target of delivering clear outcomes within 30 days.
The Freedom Beach case centres on allegations of encroachment on public land and concerns over public access to the popular beach on Phuket’s west coast.
"Freedom Beach is already in the process of being handled," Mr Naphat said, adding that investigations were continuing under the relevant procedures.
The second issue concerns the use of beachfront land at Bang Tao Beach, where authorities are examining whether activities and developments comply with legal requirements and regulations governing public beach areas.
Mr Naphat noted that Bang Tao remained an active area of investigation and that provincial authorities had ordered officials to continue pursuing the matter.
The third issue involves complaints that entertainment venue operators in Patong had been subjected to demands for bribes, Mr Naphat said.
Of note, in his public comments Mr Napahat made no mention of any investigations into allegations of corruption relating to business operations and illegally occupying state land at Freedom or Nui beaches.
Instead, Mr Naphat focused on Patong. A field inspection of entertainment venue licences was scheduled to be conducted, and was expected to resolve "almost 100%" of the issues identified, he said.
Mr Naphat stressed that allegations involving government officials were also under investigation, but declined to provide further details.
"The matter is currently under investigation and the information remains confidential," he said.
Mr Naphat warned that if investigations found evidence of wrongdoing by officials or other parties, legal action would be taken.
He described the three cases as urgent priorities for the province and said resolving them was essential to restoring transparency, improving public administration and rebuilding confidence among residents and visitors alike.
"The goal is to return Phuket’s administration to normality, efficiency and maximum benefit for the people," he said.