Panaghiusa welcomes acquittal of Molbog youth leader; reiterates Indigenous Peoples’ legitimate struggle vs. destructive projects
Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (Panaghiusa) welcomes the acquittal of Molbog youth leader Angelica Nasiron from two cyberlibel charges in Balabac, Palawan. On September 17, 2026, the Regional Trial Court dismissed the subpoenas filed against her by Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Hamidon Ariel Monsarapa, which had been lodged on March 10, 2025.
The decision further revealed troubling evidence of collusion between the IPMR and Jewelmer Corporation. In his own testimony, Monsarapa admitted that the Molbog community affiliated with him receives a yearly amount of Php500,000.00 from the corporation. The court concluded that the IPMR had sided with corporate interests and neglected the voices and needs of the Indigenous Peoples' community he was supposed to represent.
This ruling affirms that Angelica Nasiron’s words were not malicious and that they were instead anchored in a legitimate cause to defend her community’s ancestral domain in Mariahangin Island. Nasiron’s criticisms are a response to threats of displacement and encroachment on her community’s ancestral land.
Nasiron has spoken of the toll these fabricated cases have taken on her life, saying it was not easy to face trumped-up charges because the stress affected her livelihood, her future, and even her mental health.
“Masaya ako sa kabila ng hirap at mga pagsubok na dinanas ko, nanaig pa rin ang katotohanan,” Nasiron added.
(I am happy because despite the hardships and trials I endured, the truth still prevailed.)
Her words also carry a message of courage and solidarity for other Indigenous Peoples’ communities resisting displacement and destructive projects.
“Kaya ang masasabi ko sa mga Katutubo, katulad din namin, tibayan ang loob. Manindigan at magtiwala sa sarili at lagi magdasal sa Panginoon. Huwag padadala sa pananakot. Patuloy na lumaban at ipaglaban ang katotohanan," Nasiron emphasized.
(To my fellow Indigenous Peoples, strengthen your resolve, stand firm, trust yourself, always pray to God. Do not give in to intimidation, continue to fight and defend the truth),”
Nasiron’s case reflects the broader reality faced by the Indigenous Peoples across the Philippines, where fabricated charges and intimidation are used to silence opposition to destructive projects, including mining concessions, dam projects, and ecotourism schemes imposed without Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Indigenous Peoples’ communities are harassed, red-tagged, and dragged into courtrooms simply for upholding their rights and defending their lands. These struggles are legitimate, rooted in the right to self-determination and the survival of future generations.
Panaghiusa reaffirms its solidarity with the Molbog people of Mariahangin and with all the Indigenous Peoples resisting displacement and destructive projects. The acquittal of Nasiron is a reminder that truth can prevail, but it is also a call to intensify collective action until all trumped-up charges against the Indigenous Peoples are dismissed and their rights are fully upheld.
Defending ancestral lands is not a crime. It is a just and necessary struggle for survival, dignity, and self-determination. #
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