Marihangin residents voice concerns over armed guards and alleged ecotourism project

January 17, 2025

Allegations tying Bricktree Properties Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, to armed guards in Marihangin, Palawan, have intensified community tensions, despite the company denying involvement in the area or its inclusion in their proposed ecotourism project.

Residents and environmental groups have accused Bricktree of deploying armed guards in the area. The Philippine National Police (PNP) – Palawan revealed in a January 7 dialogue with Marihangin residents that their investigation suggested Bricktree hired JMV Services, the alleged security agency providing the guards.

“The security guards are legitimate. The security agency legally requested their license. We cannot prohibit them unless they commit illegal acts,” stated Atty. Raul Regala of the PNP.

Tensions escalated following a June 29, 2024, incident where 16 armed guards reportedly arrived in Marihangin and fired gunshots at residents. The confrontation disrupted the community’s daily life, prompting concerns over safety and property rights.

Bricktree Denies Marihangin Link

During a January 9 technical conference with the Department of Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Bricktree representatives reiterated that Marihangin is not part of their 5,568-hectare ecotourism project on Bugsuk Island.

“As an environmental [impact statement] preparer, our task is limited to Bugsuk Island,” said Jay Siason, Bricktree’s EIS preparer. “If you go there, you’ll see the strategic locations within the island. If Marihangin were included, it would be on the other side of the sea.”

However, residents and groups remain skeptical. Soc Banzuela, National Coordinator of PAKISAMA, pointed to the June 29 incident as evidence of Bricktree’s presence in Marihangin.

“The police clarified that they were hired by Bricktree Properties,” Banzuela noted. “Residents are asking why they are being guarded if Marihangin is not part of the project. If they have no authority on that island, why are they guarding it?”

Bricktree emphasized that Marihangin is excluded from project maps and its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

Transparency Under Scrutiny

Transparency concerns have plagued the project since a May 2, 2024, public hearing on the ecotourism proposal. Residents and stakeholders questioned the DENR-EMB’s refusal to release full proceedings or recordings of the hearing.

“We want to know if the proceedings truly reflect what was said by the participants,” said Banzuela. “Do participants not have the right to obtain the proceedings from the public hearing?”

Atty. Hazel Dizon, representing Bricktree, defended the decision, citing Freedom of Information (FOI) exemptions. “The record is covered by the FOI exemption. We are not inclined to provide the official recordings,” Dizon explained.

Residents argued that access to the full documents is essential to verify the accuracy of hearing summaries and reports. “The purpose of obtaining the full document is to verify its authenticity and ensure the summary aligns with the actual discussions,” Banzuela added.

Community Opposition Mounts

Marihangin residents voiced strong opposition to the project during the May 2 hearing, with many refusing to sign attendance sheets over fears their signatures might be misused to imply support.

“The people are affected by the project. To ease their concerns and clarify the situation, we should all be on the same page,” said Romillano Calo, chairperson of SAMBILOG—Balik Bugsuk Movement. “The government should assist the people and provide clarity for the community.”

Stakeholders continue to call for transparency and accountability, urging authorities and Bricktree to address the residents’ concerns and ensure the integrity of the environmental assessment process.

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