Residents of Barangay Malisbong, Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro strongly opposed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) plan to construct a military camp in their barangay. News about the planned military camp spread during the last week of March, residents said.

Based on preliminary information, the camp’s construction is planned on a private lot near Malisbong National High School. The landowner refused the military’s offer to rent the lot for the proposed structure.

Residents are questioning why the barangay needs a camp when the municipality of Sablayan was already declared “stable in internal peace and security” or “insurgency-free” as early as August 2024. As of the last record in 2020, Barangay Malisbong had a population of 4,262 residents.

Residents have yet to formally filed complaints but they have expressed widespread opposition to the plan. One resident shared the prevalent fear and trauma felt by the community due to the possibility of being caught in a crossfire and in encounters if construction of the camp pushes through.

Residents said Barangay Malisbong has been periodically subjected by AFP to combat operations, surveillance, and counter-insurgency campaigns. They are concerned that these activities may intensify once the camp is built in the middle of the barangay.