CBCP Demands Justice for Indigenous Ancestral Lands
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has called on government agencies to act decisively to protect the indigenous ancestral lands in Palawan. The CBCP urged the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to ensure that agrarian and ancestral lands are granted to the rightful indigenous beneficiaries.
In a pastoral letter written by CBCP president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the plight of the Molbog and Cagayanens indigenous communities on Bugsuk Island was highlighted. These groups have long suffered displacement and harassment while fighting to retain their ancestral lands.
Long-Standing Struggles of Indigenous Communities
The pastoral letter referenced concerns raised by Palawan’s two bishops during the CBCP’s July plenary assembly. Both Bishop Socrates Mesiona and Bishop Broderick Pabillo shared the communities’ ongoing challenges.
The Molbog and Cagayanens submitted their certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT) applications to the NCIP back in June 2005. However, these applications remain unresolved after nearly two decades.
Contested Notices of Coverage and Harassment
Meanwhile, the DAR issued Notices of Coverage (NOCs) under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in 2014. These were later withdrawn in May 2023 following a report that the land was unsuitable for agriculture. This decision has further complicated the land rights situation.
Adding to the tension, armed men appeared in June 2024 on Bugsuk Island, reportedly to push out residents in favor of an ecotourism project. This incident caused fear and disruption among the indigenous inhabitants.
CBCP Calls for Peace and Legal Clarity
The CBCP emphasized the Church’s mission to uphold justice and human dignity, including land rights issues. It urged the armed group on Maria Hangin Island to withdraw immediately to prevent intimidation.
Furthermore, the CBCP appealed to DAR and NCIP to revisit the 2014 NOCs to allow lands outside ancestral claims to be distributed under CARP. It also called on the NCIP to fast-track the resolution of the pending CADT applications, ensuring the indigenous people’s ancestral rights are legally recognized.
Hope for Security and Dignity
“We believe that the timely issuance of the CADT, coupled with appropriate DAR action on other lands, will bring legal clarity, security, and peace to residents,” the CBCP stated. “This will uphold the dignity of both agrarian and ancestral domain beneficiaries.”
Finally, the CBCP encouraged the public to unite in protecting indigenous peoples’ rights to live peacefully and with dignity on their ancestral lands across the Philippines.
For more news and updates on indigenous ancestral lands, visit Filipinokami.com.
