Students, faculty, and support groups from Ateneo Para sa Bugsuk gathered for a prayer vigil and candle-lighting ceremony to call for peace, justice, and protection for the residents of Sitio Marihangin in Bugsuk, Palawan.
The gathering, held in the wake of recent arrests and escalating harassment, included the recitation of the rosary, solidarity speeches, and lighting of candles to express support for the community facing continuous intimidation.
The students condemned the violence, oppression, intrusion of armed guards, and the “unjust arrests” of the so-called Marihangin 10 and community leader Oscar “Ka Ondo” Pelayo.
Earlier this week, on the morning of May 18, an estimated 41 armed security personnel entered the island, heightening fears among residents. The following day, May 19, Pelayo was sentenced to imprisonment on a long-standing illegal fishing charge dating back to 2006. Pelayo, who led Marihangin’s fight to defend ancestral lands and waters in the 2000s, now faces decades-old accusations amid ongoing tensions.
During the vigil, prayers were accompanied by “dua” under the sacred tampat tree and a novena at the Ina ng Saklolo Chapel. The Ateneo group also issued a call to the broader community to join their prayers for “peace and justice for Marihangin,” highlighting the mounting concerns over the escalating conflict in the area.
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