We, the undersigned residents, workers, business owners, and stakeholders of Siargao, respectfully ask our Local Government to formally review growing community concerns regarding [Redacted] public activities and their perceived effects on Siargao’s reputation, local livelihoods, community relationships, privacy, and individuals publicly associated with alleged wrongdoing.

If, after an independent review and an opportunity for all appropriate parties to be heard, these concerns are found sufficiently serious, we respectfully ask the LGU to consider adopting an official persona non grata resolution.

This petition is not a verdict. It is a request for our elected representatives to listen, verify, and decide.

## 1. Siargao’s reputation, livelihoods, and growing community division

For many of us, Siargao is not merely a destination. It is our home, our community, and our livelihood.

Thousands of families depend directly or indirectly on tourism, hospitality, transportation, restaurants, accommodations, surfing, local services, suppliers, and the confidence that visitors place in the island.

Siargao’s reputation therefore affects real people.

Members of the community have become increasingly concerned about the way highly contentious local issues, accusations, and conflicts involving Siargao have repeatedly been brought into the public sphere and amplified through social media and national and international media reaching audiences far beyond the island and the Philippines.

[Redacted] has repeatedly participated in media discussions concerning controversial issues in Siargao, including international coverage that has subsequently circulated to audiences in different countries and languages. These appearances and publications are publicly verifiable.

Community members have reported receiving questions, messages, and expressions of concern from relatives, friends, clients, and contacts living in different parts of the Philippines and abroad after this coverage circulated, illustrating just how far negative perceptions surrounding Siargao-related controversies can travel.

We fully recognize [Redacted] right, and everyone’s right, to speak to journalists, criticize perceived problems, advocate for causes, and raise legitimate concerns.

The concern is not criticism itself.

The concern is whether repeatedly amplifying highly contentious local disputes to very large audiences can create disproportionate reputational consequences for an entire island and thousands of people who had no involvement whatsoever in those disputes.

A controversy may eventually pass.

A damaging perception of an entire destination can last much longer.

There is also growing concern about polarization within the community, where complex issues are increasingly reduced to opposing sides and public conflict rather than constructive dialogue.

Protecting Siargao’s reputation does not mean hiding problems.

It means addressing problems responsibly, accurately, proportionately, and through the proper institutions whenever possible.

## 2. Concerns regarding local residents and workers

These concerns are not limited to foreigners or immigration.

Community members have also raised concerns regarding the reported circulation in group or community discussions of information or lists concerning identifiable local workers and their perceived performance, behavior, or suitability for employment.

In a small island community, such information can quickly affect someone’s employment opportunities, income, professional relationships, and reputation.

Employers and community members are entitled to raise legitimate concerns based on genuine experiences.

But accuracy, fairness, proportionality, and an opportunity for people to respond also matter, particularly when someone’s livelihood may be affected.

We therefore ask the LGU to independently determine whether these practices occurred, their extent and context, and whether affected workers or residents wish to be heard.

Nobody is above legitimate criticism.

But nobody should be unnecessarily condemned through unchecked, inaccurate, or disproportionate information either.

## 3. Accuracy, privacy, and the public exposure of individuals

A particularly serious concern relates to the public identification of individuals connected with alleged immigration, employment, or business violations.

During a public hearing in May 2026, [Redacted] presented materials concerning numerous individuals alleged to be involved in unauthorized foreign work or business activities.

The presentation stated that a growing list of alleged foreign violators had been compiled. In certain instances, publicly presented materials included identifying information such as names, nationalities, social-media accounts, business affiliations, dates of birth, reports to authorities, and locations or addresses.

Community members have also questioned the accuracy of some information and classifications presented, including concerns that certain individuals may have been inaccurately described, misclassified, or may not even have been foreign nationals.

We are not asking the public to decide whether those concerns are correct.

We are asking the LGU to verify them.

This illustrates precisely why identities and personal information should be handled carefully before allegations have been adequately checked by the competent authorities.

An accusation can circulate throughout Siargao and around the internet within hours.

A correction may never reach the same audience.

When an identifiable individual becomes publicly associated with alleged illegal activity before the underlying facts have been properly verified, consequences can arise immediately for reputation, employment, business relationships, personal safety, and standing in the community.

Even an honest mistake can cause lasting harm once a person’s identity has been publicly attached to an allegation.

Accountability matters. So do accuracy, privacy, proportionality, fairness, and due process.

## 4. We support immigration enforcement

We want to be absolutely clear:

This petition is not against the enforcement of Philippine immigration, labor, business, environmental, or other applicable laws.

Foreign nationals and businesses must comply with Philippine law.

Suspected violations should be reported to the competent authorities.

Genuine violations should be investigated and, where properly established, should have appropriate consequences.

Our concern is how allegations are pursued, publicized, and amplified.

There is an important difference between reporting suspected violations to the Bureau of Immigration and publicly exposing identifiable individuals before their circumstances have been adequately verified.

The May 2026 presentation itself advocated stronger visa checks, monitoring of unauthorized businesses, penalties, and deportation proceedings where appropriate.

We do not object to proper enforcement.

We question whether advocacy for enforcement should also require greater verification, restraint, proportionality, privacy, and consideration for the wider effects on Siargao and its community.

Laws can be enforced firmly without unnecessarily feeding unverified identities and accusations into public discourse.

We can support strong law enforcement while also demanding responsible advocacy.

Those positions are not contradictory.

## 5. Why we are asking the LGU to investigate

Some residents may hesitate to speak individually because they do not wish to become the subject of another public controversy or risk consequences affecting their employment, businesses, relationships, or reputation.

That is why a collective petition matters.

We respectfully ask the Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Sangguniang Bayan to:

1. Formally receive and acknowledge these community concerns;
2.Independently review relevant public hearings, official recordings, presentations, public statements, media appearances, and other publicly available materials;
3. Provide a confidential means for affected residents, workers, and businesses to share their experiences or information;
4. Verify concerns regarding inaccurate classifications or information used to publicly identify individuals;
5. Review concerns regarding the disclosure or circulation of personal and identifying information;
6. Review concerns raised by local workers regarding information allegedly circulated about them;
7. Assess the wider impact of these activities and controversies upon Siargao’s reputation, livelihoods, privacy, community relationships, and social cohesion;
8. Provide [Redacted] an appropriate opportunity to respond; and
9. If justified after independent review, consider adopting a resolution declaring [Redacted] persona non grata.

This petition intentionally does not reproduce screenshots, lists of individuals, addresses, personal information, private communications, or other evidence containing identifying information.

Relevant public hearings, official recordings, presentations, publications, media appearances, and other publicly available materials can be independently reviewed by the Local Government.

## We want the law enforced. We also want our community protected.

Siargao needs accountability.

Siargao needs its laws respected.

But Siargao also needs accuracy, fairness, privacy, responsible advocacy, constructive dialogue, and respect for the people whose livelihoods and reputations can be affected by public accusations.

Enforcing the law should strengthen our community, not unnecessarily divide or damage it.

This petition does not ask the public to judge [Redacted] or determine whether has committed any criminal offense or unlawful act.

It asks our elected representatives to listen to the concerns of the community, independently verify the facts, hear all appropriate sides, and determine whether formal action is warranted.

If you believe these concerns deserve to be formally heard and independently investigated by our Local Government, you may support this petition.

Signing does not require you to believe every allegation or concern that has been raised.

Your signature simply means that you believe these issues are sufficiently serious to deserve proper examination by the authorities.

Supporters may choose not to display their names publicly, subject to the privacy options provided by the petition platform.

Concerned Residents and Stakeholders of Siargao