Puerto Princesa bishop urges government action amid armed tension on Molbog ancestral land

April 7, 2025

The bishop of Puerto Princesa has called on the Philippine government to intervene “to prevent any possible violence” following renewed tensions on Mariahangin Island in Balabac, Palawan.

In a statement issued on April 4, Bishop Socrates Mesiona of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Princesa raised alarm over the presence of armed groups that entered the island before dawn.

“This incident has caused great fear among residents. According to reports, the presence of armed groups brings fear, especially among people who are worried that they may be driven away from their recognized ancestral lands,” said Bishop Mesiona.

“I appeal to government agencies to immediately intervene to prevent any possible violence,” the bishop added.

Community reports indicate that 80 private security guards from JMV Services forcibly entered Sitio Mariahangin in Barangay Bugsuk, Balabac, on April 4, bringing the total number of deployed guards on the island to 96 since June 29, 2024.

Residents said the guards claimed the sitio had already been purchased—a statement that deeply alarmed members of the Indigenous Molbog community, who have long lived on and considered the area their ancestral domain.

On June 29, 2024, gunfire was reported targeting local residents. Since then, at least 16 armed men have remained stationed on the island. For the past ten months, locals have been taking shifts to guard their community against what they described as an attempt at forced encroachment.

The ongoing presence of armed personnel has severely affected the livelihoods of the Molbog people, disrupting both fishing and seaweed farming. Community members said their daily routine now includes vigilance patrols to guard against further threats and harassment.

In a dialogue held on January 7 with the Commission on Human Rights, Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, and the Palawan Philippine National Police (PNP), the local PNP revealed a possible link between JMV Services and Bricktree Properties—a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which has reportedly deployed security on the island.

“We are still preparing. The armed blue guards continue to harass our community and the tension remains,” said Angelica Nasiron, a member of the Molbog Indigenous group.

Local and national agencies have yet to issue an official response regarding the bishop’s appeal and the reported presence of corporate-affiliated armed guards on ancestral land.

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