Philippine bishop denounced arrest of Indigenous residents in Palawan Province

Bishop Socrates Mesiona of Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Philippines, has expressed deep concern over the arrest of eleven indigenous residents of Barangay Mariahangin in Balabac, Palawan, on May 15.

In a public statement of support, Mesiona strongly condemned the detention of the Indigenous individuals who were charged with grave coercion after allegedly being forcibly brought to Brooke’s Point.

According to the bishop, the arrested individuals were ordinary citizens who were peacefully defending their right to live and earn a livelihood on land inherited from their ancestors.

“We stand in solidarity with the indigenous people of Mariahangin, Balabac, in the defense of their right to live peacefully on the lands inherited from their ancestors,” Mesiona declared.

He urged the government and the public to recognize and respect the rights of indigenous peoples, insisting that they should not be treated as criminals simply for defending their homes, livelihoods, and culture.

The Church, along with various human rights groups, has also called for humane and just treatment of the arrested individuals and encouraged government agencies to review the incident through the lens of human rights and social justice.

“These individuals are ordinary people who simply seek to protect their right to live and work their lands. Therefore, we express our condemnation of the treatment of these eleven residents of Mariahangin,” the prelate added.

Barangay Mariahangin has long been recognized as the ancestral land of indigenous groups such as the Molbog and Cagayanen. However, recently, the area has faced growing tensions due to land grabbing and legal disputes surrounding indigenous ownership and settlement.

An estimated 96 families currently reside in Sitio Mariahangin, of which 12 families are Catholic.