[EDITORIAL] No land, no life: Defending the defenders
by Highland 360 | May 8, 2024
In April 2024, the Ati Indigenous Peoples (IPs) appealed for their land after being forcibly evicted from a contested area of the renowned Boracay Island in the Malay town of Aklan province. The eviction happened in March after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) revoked their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) in 2023.
Maria Tamboon, one of the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization’s (BATO) leaders, recalled to INQUIRER in March that guards began installing barricades around their lands, making them unable to enter the area. In addition to other children being trapped in some of the barricaded houses, guards also had their own weapons, which made the situation risky for the other residents.
As these IPs advocate and speak against endangering their land and way of life, they are also at risk of endangering themselves and the ones who fight alongside them — an exemplification of the lengths some would go to suppress dissenting voices.
The Cordillera Region is no longer a stranger to the intimidation and violence that the Ati IPs faced. A 2023 report by the British advocacy group, Global Witness, documented 11 killings of environmentalists in the Philippines alone in 2022. The country has been listed as the worst place in Asia for land and environmental defenders with 281 killings since 2012.
This tactic can have dire consequences, leading to arrest, detention, or even killings of the innocent. Such methods by the state and private sectors aim to silence those who fight to protect the environment from environmentally destructive projects.
As part of the Cordillera community, we know how significant it is to stand with our land. Since the 1970s, indigenous people in Cordillera have been actively protesting against river dam projects, which have gained global attention for indigenous rights. Despite many decades, the subject of dam projects still persists.
For instance, the proposed construction of a series of hydroelectric dams by Pan Pacific Renewable Power Corporation along the Apayao-Abullog River in 2023 was opposed by the residents living around the area. In an interview conducted by the Northern Dispatch in October 2023, Budin Balalang, an elder resident of Kabugao Apayao, stated that their ancestors imparted to them the concept of living in accordance with the natural world, prioritizing the land rather than monetary wealth. If the projects persist, they will not only sacrifice their harvests, dwellings, and territories, but also the plants and animals that became part of their living.
In an attempt to save their land from the dam projects, numerous indigenous activists encountered red-tagging and were subjected to criminalization as a consequence of their acts, particularly in Cordillera. Among victims include Stephen Tauli, a member of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), who was forcibly taken in Tabuk City and subsequently released after 24 hours. There were also Rogyn Beyao and Camay Bog-as, young advocates for Sumkad (rise), who have encountered instances of harassment and being labeled as threats by authorities.
Furthermore, the story of Macli-ing Dulag from Tinglayan, Kalinga shows the lengths of deeds others commit to silence environmental defenders. As documented by the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission, Dulag represented the IPs threatened by the Chico River Dam Project which was first proposed during the regime of then President-Dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The project would have affected an estimated 100,000 IPs.
Laurence Delina’s research article on indigenous environmental defenders and the legacy of Macli-ing states that on April 24, 1980, Marcos Sr.’s military personnel open-fired on the homes of Dulag and his neighbor in Kalinga. His death sparked greater resistance against the Chico River Dam Project, prompting the World Bank to withdraw its funding and Marcos Sr.’s government to stop the construction of the dams.
Nevertheless, the indigenous people may not receive attention from the current government as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated in his inaugural State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 25, 2022 that his administration would prioritize the implementation of sustainable energy sources as part of his climate agenda. Although the government’s justification for transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources is clear, it has still caused concerns among indigenous communities and other environmental organizations.
While we acknowledge the potential of development projects in commercialization, tourism, livelihood to empower communities, a fair decision-making process with IPs is crucial. They must be treated as equals with regards to their land and resources. Respect for their rights and sustainable development should go hand-in-hand.
Therefore, as a student-led news organization based in Baguio, Cordillera, we stand with the IPs and environmental defenders in fighting for our land — our home. We cannot allow a selfish agenda of development to overshadow the very essence of what makes our city the City of Pines, and our region the ancestral land of the IPs.
These IP leaders and defenders are our guardians who are brave enough to stand and speak up about our environmental and cultural concerns. But standing with them and recognizing them is not enough. As guardians of our land, they themselves should be guarded by stronger laws and regulations. Laws that listen to their voices and give them the power to protect their home.
The government must strengthen its policies about the conduct of projects that may cause detrimental effects to the environment and displace the IPs. While the Philippine Constitution recognizes their rights to their ancestral lands, cultures, and voices, a lack of enforcement leaves them vulnerable. We need a policy shift that fully recognizes and includes them in national and local decision-making for a more genuine commitment and strong implementation of their rights.
The general public also plays a crucial role by paying attention and engaging with these issues. Being knowledgeable about these issues is one step forward towards a larger movement that can empower defenders and IP leaders to protect their land and property.
Through this, we can create a nation where its people are also part of the development, and where the sacrifices of our defenders are not just commemorated, but lead to real progress.
