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Residents of Sitio Marihangin in Barangay Bugsuk were placed on high alert on the evening of June 2 following an attempted entry by nearly 40 uniformed private guards, locally referred to as “blueguards,” aboard two speedboats.
According to community monitors, the vessels approached the rear portion of the island at around 7:00 PM, but were quickly spotted by residents on duty. The guards reportedly retreated before making landfall, preventing direct confrontation.
The incident has intensified concerns in the area, which has seen a growing presence of armed private security groups in recent months. Reports from human rights groups and local media have previously documented the deployment of dozens of guards to parts of Balabac, raising alarm among indigenous residents over potential land encroachment and intimidation.
Community members have since heightened security patrols and remain wary of further incursions. While no physical altercations occurred during the June 2 incident, residents say the continued presence of armed groups near their settlement has contributed to an atmosphere of unease and fear.
The local government has yet to issue a formal statement on the attempted entry. The situation remains closely monitored by civil society groups tracking developments related to indigenous land rights and private security activity in southern Palawan.
