AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM

Sicogon Island: 16 Years Of Promises, A Community Still Waiting

Dear President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Honorable Secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform:

We, the residents and members of the Sicogon Island community in Carles, Iloilo, respectfully appeal to your office to look into the long-standing issues surrounding the Sicogon Joint Venture Agreement (JVA), the land-use conversion of portions of the island, and the commitments made to our community over the past 16 years.

We are writing this letter to ensure total development of Sicogon Island. Development which is responsible, lawful, transparent, and inclusive—development that does not leave the people of Sicogon behind.

16 Years Of Promises—Where Are The Results?

In 2010, the Sicogon Development Corporation (SIDECO) and Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) entered into a Joint Venture Agreement for the development of Sicogon Island.

The agreement was presented as an opportunity to transform Sicogon into a major tourism destination while creating opportunities for local residents through employment, livelihood, housing, infrastructure, and other community benefits.

Sixteen years have now passed.

Yet many residents continue to ask:

Where are the promised benefits?

Where are the sustainable livelihood opportunities that were promised to the people?

Where are the promised housing and resettlement programs?

Where are the agricultural and livelihood opportunities for affected residents?

Where are the concrete programs that would allow the original communities of Sicogon to genuinely participate in the island’s development?

For the residents, the passage of 16 years has created a painful feeling that the promises made in the name of development have not translated into sufficient and meaningful benefits for the community.

The Agrarian Reform Issue

The history of the land issue also deserves careful government review.

In 2003, the Department of Agrarian Reform issued a Notice of Coverage involving approximately 810 hectares of land on Sicogon Island owned by SIDECO.

Eventually, approximately 475 hectares were exempted, leaving around 334 hectares covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and intended for qualified agrarian beneficiaries.

The community understands that land development is subject to laws, regulations, and government approvals.

However, we respectfully ask the DAR to determine whether the conditions, commitments, and obligations connected to the Land Use Conversion Order, the Joint Venture Agreement, and the subsequent Compromise and Framework Agreement (CFA) have been fully complied with.

If there are obligations that remain unfulfilled, we ask the DAR to exercise its authority and take the appropriate action under the law—including reviewing whether the existing land-use conversion should remain valid.

We ask for an impartial review—not special treatment.

Our Community’s Call For Justice For The Five SicogonResidents

We also appeal for attention to the case involving five members of our community who were arrested following trumped-up allegations of serious illegal detention on June 25, 2026.

The individuals are:

1. Alfredo Luis “Dave” Sarrosa

• Son of late Edgardo Sarrosa, founder of SIDECO

1. Janjan Bernal

• Barangay Secretary, San Fernando
• Chairman, CAMPCO
• President, United Sicogon Livelihood & Tourism Council
• Municipality of Carles Bantay Dagat member

1. Engr. Euferio “Pem” Alcala Jr.

• Barangay Information Officer, San Fernando
• Safety Practitioner
• Vice President, United Sicogon Livelihood & Tourism Council
• Chairman, Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee

1. Reynante Bernal

• Starlink Authorized Distributor, Sicogon Island
• Founding Member, United Sicogon Livelihood & Tourism Council

1. Rolan Brillante

• Front Beach Guest-Relations Manager
• Founding Member, United Sicogon Livelihood & Tourism Council

To us, they are not hostage takers.

They are members of our community. They are people who have served, assisted, and worked with Sicogon residents. They are law-abiding citizens.

We therefore respectfully ask the appropriate authorities to conduct a fair, impartial, and transparent investigation into the allegations and circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention.

We ask that the evidence be examined objectively and that the rights of the accused be fully protected.

We ask for a  speedy trial of their case.

If the investigation and evidence establish that these individuals were wrongly accused, we appeal for their immediate release and the dismissal of the appropriate charges in accordance with law.

Our community does not ask for anyone to be above the law.

We ask that the law be applied fairly to everyone.

We Also Ask For Transparency Regarding Reported Interests In SITEC

We further respectfully ask the national government and appropriate investigative authorities to look into reports concerning the alleged involvement of former Speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with an alleged sale or proposed transfer of interests involving Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corporation (SITEC).

We emphasize that we are not declaring these allegations as established facts.

We are asking for transparency and verification.

If there were negotiations, transactions, proposed sales, transfers, or changes in ownership or control involving SITEC, we believe the public—particularly the affected residents of Sicogon—deserve to know the nature, legality, and circumstances of such transactions.

Any such matter should be examined by the appropriate government agencies, with the relevant documents and parties subjected to proper verification.

President Marcos, Please Hear The People Of Sicogon

Mr. President, we are not against the investors in Sicogon.

We are do in fact favor full development of tourism is Socogon.

We are asking that this development includes the people who have lived on Sicogon for generations.

For 16 years, our community has heard promises of tourism, jobs, livelihood, housing, infrastructure, and a better future.

We now ask the government:

Have those promises been fulfilled?

And if they have not, who will hold those responsible accountable?

We respectfully ask President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Agrarian Reform to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive review of the Sicogon Joint Venture Agreement and the Compromise and Framework Agreement;
2. Determine whether all obligations and commitments to the Sicogon community have been fulfilled;
3. Review the Land Use Conversion Order and determine whether its conditions remain legally and factually satisfied;
4. Protect the rights and interests of agrarian beneficiaries and long-time residents of Sicogon;
5. Ensure transparency regarding the development, ownership, and control of the affected properties and corporate entities;
6. Conduct an impartial investigation into the June 25, 2026 hostage-taking allegations and the arrests of the four Sicogon community members;
7. Ensure that no resident is deprived of liberty based solely on unverified or unsupported allegations; and
8. Investigate, through the proper government authorities, reports concerning any alleged transaction or transfer involving SITEC and any persons reportedly connected to it.

Sicogon Deserves Development—But It Must Also Have Justice.

Sicogon is more than a tourism destination.

It is our home.

It is where our families live, where our children grow up, and where generations of Sicogonons have built their lives.

We believe that development and the rights of communities can coexist.

But development must be built on transparency, accountability, lawful land use, fulfilled commitments, and respect for the people.

After 16 years, we believe the people of Sicogon deserve answers.

We respectfully ask the President and the Department of Agrarian Reform:

Please look into Sicogon.

Please hear our community.

Please review the promises.

Please protect our rights.

And above all, please make sure that development does not come at the expense of the people who call Sicogon home.

Respectfully,

THE SICOGON ISLAND COMMUNITY

For transparency and accountability, we call on the proper government agencies to independently verify the allegations, agreements, transactions, and circumstances discussed in this letter.