TUPI, South Cotabato — A Bangsamoro family has renewed its claim over a parcel of land in Barangay Bololmala, Tupi, South Cotabato, alleging that the property was forcibly abandoned by their grandfather during the height of Martial Law in the 1970s due to widespread violence and fear.
According to the family, their ancestor fled the area at the height of armed conflict and political repression, leaving behind land they insist was lawfully owned and never sold, transferred, or relinquished. Decades later, the heirs have returned to assert what they say is their rightful inheritance, armed with what they describe as clean and legally issued land titles.
The family maintains that they possess sufficient documentary evidence proving legitimate ownership of the property, contradicting claims by other individuals who are currently occupying and using the land. They warn that the overlapping claims could escalate into serious conflict if left unresolved.
Fearing rising tension, the family has formally appealed to concerned government agencies, including the local government unit and land registration offices, to immediately intervene and resolve the dispute through lawful and peaceful means.
“We do not want conflict. What we are asking for is justice and due process under the law,” one family member said, stressing that their objective is a fair and transparent resolution.
They have also urged authorities to conduct an impartial investigation and ensure peace and order in the area, cautioning that unresolved land disputes in Mindanao have historically led to violent confrontations.
Beyond local agencies, the family is also appealing to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government for assistance, citing their historical involvement in the Bangsamoro struggle despite now residing outside BARMM’s territorial jurisdiction.
“Even if we are no longer within BARMM, we were part of the long struggle to achieve Bangsamoro self-governance,” the family said, appealing for solidarity and institutional support.
As of this writing, the family continues to call for urgent government intervention to prevent unrest and to restore what they say is ancestral land passed down from their forebears—an issue that underscores the lingering land injustices rooted in the Martial Law era and their lasting impact on Bangsamoro communities.