NCIP hit over Kalinga mine proj; folks harassed, coerced

PASIL, Kalinga – The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples was accused last week “deliberately committing grave violations against the Guinaang tribe (here) in the conduct of the free prior informed consent (FPIC) for a mining project of Makilala Mining Company (Makilala). BenedictoBalawag, chairperson of the Indigenous Farmers Association of Guinaang Pasil (IFAGPI) said “Since the first day of FPIC consultation conducted by the NCIP in August 2013, the NCIP-Kalinga played deaf to the clear voice of the people opposing the entry of Makilala.”

“From 2013 to the present, despite the manifesto, petitions and resolutions of the Guinaang tribe opposing the application of Makilala, the NCIP continued to undermine the people’s protest. From the NCIP national office to its regional and local offices, NCIP proved its worthless existence for the people.”

In May this year, Balawag said lawyer Amador Batay-an, regional director of NCIP dismissed  petitions filed by the Guinaang tribe on violations committed by the NCIP-Kalinga and even issued directive to continue with the FPIC process in the area.

Balawag cited violations committed by the NCIP-Kalinga in Guinaang: deliberate exclusion of barangay Dantalan as one of six barangays of the Guinaang tribe in Pasil, forming a fake council of elders disregarding traditional  elders of the tribe and manipulation and lack of transparency.

NCIP-Kalinga officials reportedly gathered signatures for two documents: resolution of consent and another  authorizing their hand-picked council of elders to negotiate terms of the MOA.

Balawag said NCIP also failed to consider the boundary dispute between the Guinaang and the Balatoc tribes, when this dispute covered the 3,000 hectares of Makilala application for mining.

Makilala also reportedly failed to discuss their proposal for exploration, and “told people of fairy tales where they will develop playgrounds, parks, schools, clinics.”

The people were reportedly subjected to threat and harassment by suspected military intelligence members and individuals who sent threatening text messages to vocal elders and leaders who were against against Makilala.

Scholars from the tribe were reportedly threatened to be dropped from the NCIP and Chevron lists of scholars if their parents will not support Makilala.

“The continuing actions of the NCIP-Kalinga in their desperate move to obtain the FPIC of the Guinaang tribe did not only violate the collective rights of the people but also brought divisiveness and problems to the tribe,” Balawag said.

“Families are breaking up because of pro and anti-positioning on the project. Community culture and values are disintegrating. Makilala is bribing people to get their support to the project. The NCIP and Makilala will only do us harm if they continue to act in favour of destructive mining companies such as Makilala and disregard the people’s decision in opposing the entry of Makilala mining.”

Abigail Anongos, secretary general of Cordillera Peoples Alliance said they  “support the struggle of the Guinaang tribe in asserting and defending their land, life, resources and rights against destructive mining (Makilala mining) and corporate energy (Chevron geothermal energy project). The NCIP must be abolished because contrary to its mandate, the NCIP is instrumental in violating indigenous peoples’ rights as experienced by the Guinaang tribe and other indigenous communities in the region.