PORAC, Pampanga—Members of an Ayta community in Sitio Pidpid, Barangay Sapang Uwak, here have filed a formal complaint seeking the intervention of the government against nontribal organized groups encroaching on their rightful ancestral domain.
In a letter to the regional office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples signed by Paramay Sibal, the designated representative of the said Ayta community, several members of the Aniban ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Hacienda Dolores and Alyansa ng Magbubukid at Residente ng Hacienda Dolores were accused of having invaded Sitio Pidpid as early as last year without permission from Ayta elders or leaders.
The members of the two groups proceeded to establish residence and fenced off portions of land within the property despite notice from the Aytas, Sibal complained.
Sibal also complained that the group has been instigating unfair trade in the community, selling overpriced goods, such as coffee, rice and sugar. Produce by the Aytas were also being bought at below-market prices, affecting their livelihood.
Sibal identified some of the individuals who entered the Ayta community as Catalino David, Omar Franco, Cornelio Pineda, Rafael Ignacio, Ignacio Ignacio, Bodoy David, Poloy Tolentino, Bonjing Pineda, Alan Ayson, Elizabeth Salunga and Oling Ayson. Some were identified as residents of Sitio Maniubag in Barangay Sapang Uwak, while others were identified as coming from nearby Barangay
Hacienda Dolores.
Section 10, Chapter III of the Republic Act (RA) 8731, or The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, states that unauthorized and unlawful intrusion upon or use of any portion of ancestral domain is punishable by law.
In addition the law provides that the “government shall take measures to prevent nonindigenous people from taking advantage of indigenous customs or indigenous peoples’
lack of understanding of the law to secure ownership or possession of ancestral domain.”
Sibal was assisted by lawyer Rolando B. Arellano in filing the formal complaint. Sibal is seeking ejection of the said occupiers, as well as a declaration of violation of the said RA. Furthermore, Sibal is seeking damages of at least P50,000 from each of the trespassing individuals.
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Obviously, both barangays Sapang Uwak and Hacienda Dolores in Porac, Pampanga have been the subject of corporate land-grabbing in Porac, Pampanga by private land corporations while the government actions may been seen as condoning violence and the behaviour of the perpetrators, as a number of complaints of farmers and human rights defenders about alleged human rights abuses are not effectively investigated.