ATM condemns NCIP’s order to dismantle anti-mining barricade
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) strongly condemns the decision by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to remove the anti-mining barricade in Barangay Ipilan, Brooke’s Point, Palawan.
Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, stated: “This action suppresses the rights of residents and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. It prevents the community from collectively protecting their ancestral domain and cultural heritage from destructive mining operations.”
Garganera said that instead of silencing the community, the NCIP should have investigated the assertions of the protesting IPs, who have long inhabited and protected the mountainous areas of Brgy. Ipilan, but who claim to have been left out in NCIP’s decision-making processes.
Brooke’s Point Vice-Mayor Mary Jean Feliciano had also earlier condemned NCIP’s action. In a Facebook post, Feliciano said: “ The NCIP was created to protect and uphold the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples not to undermine the confidence of the very communities it is mandated to serve. When decisions affecting ancestral domains are perceived to disregard the voices of those who have long protected these lands, public trust in the institution is inevitably placed at risk.”
She called on the government to investigate the circumstances behind NCIP’s decision – whether or not the legal requirements, due process, meaningful consultation, and the protections under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) were “faithfully observed.”
Garganera expressed full support for VM Feliciano’s demand. “The NCIP must be investigated and held accountable. Its mandate is to protect the IPs, not facilitate mining operations that endanger the lives, ancestral lands, and culture of indigenous groups.”
Atty. Grizelda “Gerthie” Mayo-Anda of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) likewise echoed VM Feliciano’s call. “The severe division among the IPs somehow enabled this contentious process. NCIP must investigate whether the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the IPs and the mining company was faithfully complied.”
Under the MOA, the mining company, Macro Asia/ Calmia Nickel, Inc., promised nine (9) programs and projects for the IPs, but none have been fulfilled. “What happened to these projects? These are what NCIP should be looking into,” Atty. Mayo-Anda said.
Vic Colili, an IP leader and former Councilor of Brooke’s Point said, “Ang barikada sa Brgy. Ipilan ay bahagi ng karapatan ng mga katutubo na nakasaad sa IPRA. Ito ay ang karapatan i-regulate ang pagpasok ng mga dayuhan sa kanilang Lupaing Ninuno.” (The barricade in Brgy. Ipilan is part of the exercise of the rights of the IPs under the IPRA. It refers to their right to regulate the entry of migrants into their ancestral domain.”
Colili alleged that the NCIP is heavily influenced by the pro-mining IP organization, Indigenous Peoples Development Office (IPDO) of BICAMM, to the exclusion of the IPs who dwell on the ancestral lands that will be mined.
“Bakit tila sunod-sunuran ang NCIP sa sumbong at utos ng IPDO-BICAMM na isang People's Organization na namamahala sa paggastos ng royalty share mula sa minahan? Bakit hindi kinikilala at sinusunod ng NCIP ang desisyon ng Katutubong Pamayanan na nagmamay-ari at mismong nakatira sa loob ng Lupang Ninuno na miminahin. (“Why does the NCIP seem to be following the charge and order of IPDO -BICAMM, which is a People's Organization that manages the spending of royalty share from the mines? Why does the NCIP not recognize and abide by the decision of the Indigenous community who own and live within the ancestral lands to be mined?)
Colili further called on the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate the NCIP and the pro-mining IP group, IPDO-BICAMM.
Meanwhile, IP Youth leader Mamilmar Dubria lamented, “Masakit makita na niyuyurakan ang katutubong komunidad at ang mga katutubong tumitindig para lang protektahan ang aming lupaing ninuno. Ang IPDO at NCIP ay magkasabwat. Naging kalbaryo ang buhay ng mga katutubo dahil sila lang ang nagdedesisyon at hindi na ang katutubong komunidad.” ("It hurts to see the indigenous community and the indigenous people standing up to protect our ancestral land being trampled upon. IPDO and NCIP are colluding. The lives of the indigenous people have become a nightmare because they are the only ones deciding, and no longer the indigenous community.")
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