The Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO) has taken over the 2.1 hectare land promised to them by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP).
On April 17, hundreds of BATO members marched from their original habitat in Barangay Balabag toward Dead Forest in Barangay Manoc-Manoc despite the absence of an official turnover from the government. The Atis feared that illegal settlers would occupy the area if they did not act as soon as possible.
Thus, the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title that the NCIP gave them on January 2011 prompted them to take such action.

Soon after, Secretary Jesse Obredo of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) led a meeting with the Office of the Presidential Adviser regarding the Peace Process and the NCIP in Manila to discuss the matter.
Ati representatives said that they received a call from the DILG secretary, inviting them to a meeting on the ongoing Boracay development.

Lot claimants said that the Atis forcibly took over without due court process.

The Atis had fenced the surrounding vicinity of the land and placed markings on it, indicating that the area is a property of BATO.