Indigenous people not consulted on BJE

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – More than 200 lumad leaders and representatives of different tribal groups in Mindanao and Palawan issued a manifesto yesterday denouncing the lack of consultation on the inclusion of their territories in the controversial Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The tribal leaders issued “The Cagayan de Oro Declaration” denouncing the distribution of their ancestral land to the MILF to become part of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).

Among the tribes who gathered here for the 3-day summit were Subanen, Higaonon, Talaandig, Armunanen Manobo, Ubo Manobo, Manobo Pulangiyon, Dulangan Manobo, Teduray-Upi, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat, Lambangian, Blaan, Tboli, Tagakaolo, Bagobo, Banwaon, Mamanwa, Tagbanua, Mandaya, Mansaka, Ata-Manobo, and Mangguangan.

Lumad leaders claimed it is wrong to call the entire Mindanao as a Bangsamoro homeland nor as the lumads’ ancestral domain since the groups have culture, customs and traditions of their own.

The tribes also called for peace and harmonious co-existence with Muslims in Mindanao.

They claimed that the Indigenous People’s Rights Act or IPRA, which is recognized within the framework of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Constitution, prohibits any intrusion into, much more inclusion of, lumad territories without their prior consent.

Despite many differences, even in eating habits, Mindanao lumads particularly the Tedurays, Lambangian and Dulangan Manobo tribes have been living peacefully with their Muslim neighbors for generations.       – Ben Serranoe in Manila.