The legitimate Molbog Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs)

of Balabac, Palawan, held a press conference in Manila to debunk misinformation about ancestral domain claims over their lands.

They revealed that the group “Sambilog” had undermined their own claims by applying under the agrarian reform program, which contradicts indigenous land ownership under the IPRA law.

Molbog leaders emphasized that Sambilog consists of migrant settlers from various groups such as the Cagayanen and Pala’wan, who lack the cultural and historical continuity required under National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) rules to establish a claim based on time immemorial possession.

with no ancestral or cultural ties to the land.

Tribal Chieftain Hamidon Monsarapa and other officials stressed that the Molbogs’ claim is legally and culturally valid. Despite efforts at dialogue, the dispute remains unresolved, with leaders now calling for judicial intervention and urging the public to stand for truth and protect indigenous rights.

Monsarapa, who also serves as Balabac’s IPMR and councilor, stated that the Molbog’s Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) application is based on both legal precedent and cultural practice, rather than invented narratives.

Supporting this claim were former Mariahangin residents Rowena Adel and Noreta Ismael, who disclosed that Sambilog orchestrated cultural displays, trained non-Molbogs to imitate indigenous practices, and staged social media content to create a false sense of authenticity. “Everything was staged. We were coached on what to say when officials arrived,” one of them shared.

Provincial Indigenous Peoples’ Mandatory Representation (IPMR) Arnel Abrina of Palawan also spoke at the event, noting that several attempts at resolving the issue through dialogue and administrative processes have failed due to misinformation and disregard for legal and cultural standards. He concluded that only judicial intervention can now settle the dispute over Sitio Mariahangin.

The Molbog leaders concluded by imploring the public, media, and authorities to support truth and integrity in ancestral domain processes while rejecting bogus claims that jeopardize the rights and history of real indigenous groups.

The Molbog people reside on Balabac Island, situated at the southernmost point of Palawan. They belong to the Muslim minority in the Philippines, which consists of thirteen distinct ethno-linguistic groups. Long before the Spaniards arrived, the Molbogs had already established their presence on the island, making them its earliest known inhabitants in Balabac.