A Catholic bishop has raised alarm over the presence of private security personnel on Mariahangin Island in Barangay Bugsuk, Balabac, Palawan, saying the deployment has disrupted the lives of Indigenous communities and created an atmosphere of fear.
In a statement dated April 15, 2025, Bishop Socrates C. Mesiona of Puerto Princesa expressed support for the residents—mostly Indigenous Molbog and Cagayanen peoples—who have been on high alert since April 4, when around 80 security guards, referred to locally as “Blue Guards,” reportedly arrived on the island.
“These Blue Guards have remained entrenched on the island. Due to their unwelcome presence, the community has been maintaining a constant vigil to ensure they are prepared in case the groups attempt to invade their homes,” Mesiona said.
He added that the situation has caused anxiety and distress, especially among children. “Little children, at their tender age, are being exposed to the tension and uncertainty, experiencing adverse effects on their mental well-being,” he said.
Calling on those responsible for deploying the guards, Mesiona urged authorities to act. “I stand with the residents of Mariahangin in urging those in power, as I believe they are not heartless people, to command the Blue Guards to vacate the island forthwith so that the residents can return to their normal lives and enjoy peace once again,” he said.
The bishop lamented that the affected communities feel neglected by the very institutions they once trusted. “It is disheartening that these simple people feel abandoned and betrayed by the government agencies they believed could assist them in this difficult time,” he said.
Mesiona also emphasized that Mariahangin is considered ancestral land by the Molbog and Cagayanen peoples, and any attempt to remove them from the area would constitute “a profound injustice.”
Local residents and support groups continue to call for the immediate withdrawal of the security personnel to de-escalate the situation and prevent any further harm to the affected communities.
