His Excellency Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
President of the Republic of the Philippines
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel Street, San Miguel
Manila, 1005
Philippines

Subject: Urgent Appeal for Justice: Reversing the DAR Decision on Bugsuk Island and Addressing Human Rights Violations

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Sambilog- Balik Bugsuk Movement, numerous concerned citizens, and especially the thousands of displaced farmers and their heirs. We appeal for your intervention to reverse the  decision by the Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Conrado Estrella III,  concerning the 10,821-hectare area in Barangays Bugsuk and Pandanan, Municipality of  Balabac, in the province of Palawan, Philippines. The decision to lift this area from the coverage of the agrarian reform program, on the grounds that it is forested and lacks farmers, is not only flawed but also perpetuates a grave historical injustice.

This land is not merely a piece of property; it is a symbol of a painful chapter in our nation's history. In 1974-1975, during the height of Martial Law under your father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., hundreds of families, including indigenous peoples and settlers from Bugsuk and Pandanan Islands,  were forcibly evicted from their homes. These evictions were carried out by cronies of the regime, particularly Danding Cojuangco, who seized these lands with impunity. These actions represent a clear violation of human rights and the principles of justice, and the scars of these events continue to affect the displaced communities to this day.

The Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement seeks not just the return of the land but the realization of transitional justice for the families who were wronged. These families and their heirs deserve the opportunity to return to their ancestral lands, rebuild their lives, and secure a future for their children.

Furthermore, it is deeply concerning that the land in question is now being transformed by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) into a white beach tourism destination, part of a 25,000-hectare project. The ongoing development by SMC has already led to the ongoing forcible eviction of a thousand people from the nearby Mariahangin Island, a sitio of Barangay Bugsuk. Since October 2022, 30 of the 158 families on Mariahangin Island have succumbed to legal pressures and intimidation tactics and have transferred to the offered relocation site in the mainland of Palawan.

The situation escalated tragically on June 29, 2024, when 16 armed masked men  invaded Mariahangin Island, firing gunshots that narrowly missed a child. The courageous and nonviolent response of the island's residents, who confronted these aggressors with only their bodies and mobile phones, prevented a massacre, but the community remains under grave threat. This tragic incident was well covered by the country's number one TV documentary program, Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, in their July 14 episode, bringing national attention to the ongoing crisis.

The continued presence of these armed guards has instilled fear among the residents, disrupted their livelihoods, particularly seaweed farming and fishing, and severely affected their quality of life. These actions constitute ongoing human rights violations that must be addressed immediately.

In light of these circumstances, we earnestly appeal to you to:

1. Immediately reverse the DAR Secretary's decision and reinstate the 10,821-hectare area in Bugsuk Island under the agrarian reform program, recognizing the historical and ancestral claims of the displaced families.

2. Recognize the need for transitional justice by facilitating the return of displaced farmers and their heirs to Bugsuk and Pandanan Islands, providing them with the necessary support to rebuild their lives.

3. Suspend all ongoing development projects by SMC in the affected areas until proper consultations and agreements are made with the local communities, ensuring that their rights, livelihoods, and welfare are duly protected.

4. Launch a thorough and impartial investigation into the human rights violations occurring in Mariahangin Island and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.

This is a defining moment for your administration to demonstrate its commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. By taking decisive action on this issue, you will not only correct a historical wrong but also protect the rights and dignity of the people of Bugsuk, Pandanan and Mariahangin Islands.

We trust in your leadership and your dedication to the well-being of all Filipinos. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We remain hopeful that under your administration, justice will prevail.

Sincerely,

Supporter, Sambilog-Balik Bugsuk Movement