In the middle of the night, residents and indigenous Dumagat-Remontado of Barangay San Andres, Tanay, Rizal, bravely confronted and defended against the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) elements’ sudden raid and forced eviction in their community on November 26. The AFP planned to use the ancestral land of the Dumagat-Remontado as a military reservation.

According to reports, the soldiers arrived late at night to post notices on the land they were grabbing. The soldiers later went house-to-house to inform residents about their plans for the land.

“This action brought terror, anxiety, and anger among the residents, who strongly opposed and monitored the military until midnight to prevent their actions,” Karapatan-Rizal stated.

The group emphasized that the military’s actions constitute a clear violation of the human and indigenous rights of the Dumagat-Remontado. “Indigenous peoples have the right to remain on their ancestral land, decide how it is used, and protect their community from any form of forced eviction,” it added.

Residents took videos and photos of the soldiers confronting them and shared these on social media to expose the intrusion and harassment in their community. They called on the public to support their fight for their land and community.