Panaghiusa Philippine Network stands in solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Bugsuk, Palawan, demands immediate issuance of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT)
- Panaghiusa Philippine Network
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights stands in strong solidarity with the Indigenous Peoples of Barangay Bugsuk, Palawan. Across the Philippines, Indigenous communities face the same threats of displacement and human rights violations. As a national network of Indigenous Peoples from various regions, we came together to defend our collective rights and support our fellow Indigenous Peoples in their struggle for the rights to ancestral land and self-determination.
Residents of Sitio Marihangin have maintained round-the-clock vigilance to protect their homes and ancestral domain from repeated intrusions by more than 120 armed private guards who entered without consent amid the land grabbing of San Miguel Corporation. This aggressive occupation is not only a violation of the Indigenous Peoples’ right to their ancestral lands but also a blatant attack to forcibly displace and silence them.
We strongly condemn the grave coercion charges filed against 10 Sitio Mariahangin residents by former NCIP Officer-in-Charge Executive Director Atty. Caesar Ortega. These charges reportedly followed Ortega’s visit to the community on June 27, 2024, during which residents allege that he attempted to pressure them into relinquishing their ancestral land in exchange for cash offers ranging from ₱75,000 to ₱100,000.
We also condemn the trumped-up charge against IP leader Oscar “Tatay Ondo” Pelayo, who was recently convicted of illegal fishing based on a case filed nearly two decades ago. These trumped-up charges are an obvious attempt to suppress community leaders who are vocal in asserting their rights.
Behind these are corporate interests led by Jewelmer Corporation and San Miguel Corporation. These corporations encroach on the ancestral land of the Bugsuk IP for their luxury and eco-tourism businesses.
Their operations have displaced local fisherfolk, restricted access to traditional fishing grounds, and now threaten to evict the remaining 94 households in the area. Farmers are also deprived of tilling their lands since the Department of Agrarian Reform recalled the Notices of Coverage in 2023.
It has been 20 years since they submitted their applications for Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Palawan, but these applications remain pending.
Indigenous Peoples of Bugsuk have faced continuous marginalization in favor of business interests since 1974, under the regime of Marcos Sr., father of the current president.
Thus, we urge the Marcos Jr. administration to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral lands by investigating and stopping the operations of unjust “development” projects that displace and violate the rights of Indigenous communities. We demand the immediate issuance of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) and the reinstatement of the 2014 Notice of Coverage (NOC) for the 10,821 hectares.
We also call on the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to fulfill your mandate by dropping the baseless charges against the residents and investigating the actions of former officials involved in coercion and land grabbing.
Jewelmer Corporation and San Miguel Corporation must be held accountable for the forced displacement of the people of Bugsuk and the exploitation of their ancestral lands. We further demand the immediate pullout of all armed private guards and an end to militarization in Sitio Marihangin.
Panaghiusa Philippine Network affirms that the people of Bugsuk are not alone in this struggle, as Indigenous Peoples face the same discrimination and exploitation by both the state and corporations. This struggle deepens our solidarity and strengthens our collective fight for ancestral land and self-determination. #
Reference:
Rikki Mae Gono
National Coordinator
Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
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