Residents of Sitio Mariahangin in Bugsuk, Palawan have appealed to the Senate to hear their side in a long-standing land dispute that has placed 282 indigenous people at risk of eviction.
In a video statement released February 16, 2026, community member Amina Naseron called for support and requested participation in the next hearing of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs. The panel, chaired by Senator Robinhood Padilla, held a public hearing on February 13 to address the issue.
Lawyer Nica Millado, representing the residents, said the Molbog indigenous group’s application for a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) has been pending for 21 years, leaving many leaders waiting in vain for formal recognition of their land. She added that residents turned to agrarian reform coverage in 2014, but this was revoked by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 2023, triggering what the community described as increased harassment and intimidation.
Conflicting claims over land ownership were raised during the hearing, with representatives of private titleholders asserting their rights over portions of the island. Residents, however, insist Mariahangin is ancestral land and allege that ownership documents were obtained through forged signatures. Millado also cited past violence involving armed guards allegedly deployed by titleholders.
Officials confirmed that relocation plans have been offered, though residents argue these are neither sustainable nor accessible. A representative of the titleholders said clearing operations may proceed through the deployment of engineers.
The dispute is further complicated by an ongoing 5,500-hectare eco-tourism project in the area by Bricktree Properties, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, which acknowledged providing support for relocation initiatives but denied involvement in security operations.
Most of the 282 residents of Sitio Mariahangin received court summons in December 2025 after being labeled as squatters by the alleged titleholders.
In the February 13 hearing, Senator Padilla expressed his hopes that the Senate can help to resolve the issue. Community members continue to call for Senate intervention, citing fears for their safety and the loss of their ancestral land.
Photo © Hannah Wolf