Caritas Philippines urges halt to Boracay Ati land cancellations amid claims of premature enforcement

Caritas Philippines has called for an immediate halt to the cancellation of land titles held by the Ati Indigenous community on Boracay, warning that enforcement actions are being taken despite the legal dispute not being finalised.

In a statement issued on 23 March, Bishop Gerardo Alminaza (president of Caritas Philippines and chair of the Catholic bishops’ social action commission) said the enforcement of cancelled Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) appeared to be underway even though the ruling being used as the basis for cancellation was “not yet final and executory”, and no writ of execution had been issued.

“We express our deep concern and solidarity with the Ati indigenous community of Boracay”, Alminaza said, referring to a protest held on 16 March. He argued the situation raised “serious questions not only about legality, but also about justice.”

Alminaza warned that reports from the community included the installation of fences and restrictions on access to land “long occupied and cultivated by the Ati”. In his words, “The law must protect the weak, not be used to justify their displacement.” He added: “To enforce a decision that is not yet final is to place power above justice.”

Local reporting has identified private claimants as part of the dispute and community members said fences had been installed by security guards for claimants, restricting access to disputed areas, and that the enforcement being attempted relates to CLOA 2 and CLOA 5. The community is demanding government intervention to stop implementation and restore access.

“The Ati people have protected and lived on this land long before Boracay became a global tourism destination,” community representatives were quoted as saying. “What is happening now threatens not only our rights as agrarian reform beneficiaries but also our dignity and survival as indigenous people.”

The Ati are among the earliest inhabitants of Boracay and nearby Panay Island. In recent years, their land rights have become a flashpoint in tensions between Indigenous tenure, agrarian reform instruments, and high-value tourism development.

Caritas is urging the Department of Agrarian Reform and other agencies to halt enforcement until a final ruling is issued, remove barriers, investigate the conduct of officials and private parties, and publicly clarify the status of the case to prevent further harassment and displacement.