PRESS RELEASE
QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES, Sept. 24, 2024 - We gather today with seven leaders of SAMBILOG, their legal counsel, and a coalition of support groups to demand justice for the Indigenous peoples (IPs) of Balabac, Palawan.
The SAMBILOG-BALIK Bugsuk movement stands for a critical cause: the correction of a historic wrong. This is a matter of transitional justice—restoring land that was unjustly seized during a time of dictatorship and oligarchic control.
Fifty years ago, in 1974, the 10,821-hectare ancestral land on Bugsuk Island was taken from the indigenous peoples by the late Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. For decades, they have been displaced and deprived of their rightful home and livelihood.
We call on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to correct this injustice by reversing the decision of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III to lift the land from Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) coverage and to expedite its distribution to the rightful claimants. The land must be returned to the victims of eviction and other claimants who have been denied their rights for far too long.
Furthermore, we call on the government to immediately issue the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering 56,000 hectares of land and waters in Balabac. The CADT is not just a legal document but a recognition of the centuries-old connection of these IPs to their ancestral domain, as protected under the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act.
Equally urgent is the ongoing land grabbing on Marihangin Island, where 130 families continue to face threats, violence, and intimidation. This includes the recent invasion by armed, masked guards on June 29, 2024. We demand that the government take swift action to end this exploitation and secure the land for the people who have lived there for generations.
As we stand alongside the leaders of SAMBILOG and their lawyer, we make a strong call to the Filipino public—schools, parishes, media, NGOs, and social movements. Join us in this struggle for transitional justice. Stand with us in righting a historic wrong and ensuring that the IPs of Balabac reclaim their lands. Support our actions by signing the petition online and joining our marches to schools and parishes.
Romillano Calo, Chairperson of SAMBILOG, declares:
"This fight is about correcting a grave injustice. For decades, we have been waiting to return to our land. We ask our fellow Filipinos to stand with us in this historic fight for justice."
Their lawyer, Atty. Christian Monsod, adds:
"The decision to remove this land from agrarian reform coverage is a betrayal of the people’s rights. We demand its reversal and the speedy distribution of the land to its rightful owners."
Randy Cirio, President of Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka (PAKISAMA), a representative from the support group emphasizes:
"This is not just about land; it is about justice and righting a historic wrong. We urge every Filipino to join this fight for the indigenous peoples of Balabac. Let us stand together and demand action."
Moreover, we are calling for a global boycott of San Miguel Corporation products and businesses, whose involvement in the illegal occupation of Marihangin Island and control over the stolen land in Bugsuk perpetuates this historical injustice. By boycotting, we send a clear message: companies complicit in land grabbing and exploitation of IPs cannot profit from our support.
We call on President Marcos Jr. to act now, to be an instrument of transitional justice, and to correct this long-standing historical wrong. Every day of delay prolongs the suffering of the indigenous peoples of Balabac. Let the SAMBILOG people return to their rightful lands. Let the dream of Balik Bugsuk become a reality.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
SAMBILOG - Balik Bugsuk Movement
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