The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has demanded immediate action to address what it called “enduring wounds of historical injustices” against the Molbog and Cagayanen Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Palawan.
“This concern is not only local to Palawan but a common experience among our Indigenous peoples’ communities throughout the country,” the bishops said in a pastoral letter issued on August 6, the Feast of the Transfiguration.
The letter, signed by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, came after Palawan bishops Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa and Broderick Pabillo of Taytay raised the issue at the bishops’ plenary assembly.
It called on the government to resolve long-standing land disputes, stop harassment, and ensure justice for the Molbog and Cagayanen communities.
Land dispossession and harassment
The bishops said the Molbog and Cagayanen of Bugsuk Island in Balabac have faced displacement and harassment since Martial Law and “continue to endure these injustices today, as their ancestral lands remain unjustly seized.”
They cited the situation in Maria Hangin, a barangay near Bugsuk, where “on June 27, 2024, news spread about plans to demolish their homes for an eco-luxury tourism project. This was followed by harassment, including the presence of armed groups and intimidating lawsuits,” the letter stated.
Despite these challenges, the CBCP noted that the communities “continue to hold onto the hope and dream of one day returning to their ancestral home” through the “Balik Bugsuk!” movement.
Unresolved land claims
The bishops said the IPs filed a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) in 2005, but “their application remains pending even until now.”
They added that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) issued Notices of Coverage (NOCs) in 2014 under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, but “the euphoria was short-lived” when these were recalled in May 2023 after DAR deemed the land unsuitable for agriculture.
Appeals to government
The CBCP issued two urgent appeals. “To whoever is responsible for the presence of armed groups in Maria Hangin: We humbly but strongly request the immediate withdrawal of these groups from the island,” the bishops said.
They also urged DAR and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to revisit the recalled NOCs and expedite the resolution of the CADT application “so that the ancestral rights of the indigenous communities of Maria Hangin Island may be finally recognized and upheld.”
Call for justice
The bishops rooted their appeal in scripture, citing the biblical Jubilee Year as a call for justice and land restitution. They also invoked former President Ramon Magsaysay’s reminder that “those who have less in life should have more in law.”
They appealed to the public to “work hand in hand to ensure that our indigenous brothers and sisters throughout the country will be free to live on their ancestral lands, in dignity and peace.”
“By working together, guided by the principles of justice, charity, and solidarity, we can help correct historical injustices,” the bishops said.
