2021 National Human Rights Situation Report
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risk of infection. Some of their seasonal workers and those who rely on ecotourism also lost
their livelihood due to the pandemic and the travel restrictions.302
340
The pandemic also has a negative influence on the elderly. It bears emphasis that in IP
communities, the elders play major roles in passing on traditional knowledge which could
have serious ramifications for the survival of the communities’ social and cultural activities.
IP students also face challenges in the new normal set-up which may lead to less educational
and career prospects. Access to vaccination also poses a problem due to the method of
registration. While online set up is laudable in minimizing risk of infection, the same does
not cater to the IPs as most of them do not have access to technology or the internet.303
341
The CHR Regional Office XI attended the Pakighinabi: State of Lumad in Mindanao
hosted by the Ateneo Public Interest and Legal Advocacy on 30 June 2021. The said
activity was attended by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and
various tribal representatives and tribal leaders from Mindanao. 304
342
A few issues raised by the Indigenous Peoples included the use of the word Lumad to mean
the collective Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao. The word Lumad has been banned by the
NCIP as its emergence and continued use is marred by its association with the Communist
Party of the Philippines (CPP), National Democratic Front (NDF) and New Peoples’
Army (NPA) whose ideologies are not consistent with the cultures, practices and beliefs
of ICCs/IPs. There are tribal leaders who agree with the NCIP and prefer to be called or
referred to by their respective tribe. 305
343
The second issue raised is the selling of Ancestral Domains. Some of the participants
accused the NCIP and Tribal Leaders of dealing away the ancestral domain like business
men. Participants accused tribal leaders of selling their ancestral domain and when they
complained of such activity to the NCIP, they accused the NCIP of failing to act on their
complaint.306
344
The pandemic did not deter the NCIP from processing the ancestral domain applications
from the indigenous peoples. For the month of January, the application of the Higaonon
Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) from the area of Las Nieves Buenavista-NasipitCarmen (LASBUENASCAR) was approved for the first and final reading. This ancestral
domain is known as CADT No. R13-BUE-0121-252 (CADT 252). In the following
month, an information, education, and campaign on RA 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples
Rights Act (IPRA) was given to the community, with emphasis on the IPs four bundle of
rights. 307
345
The League of CARAGA Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (LCIPMR),
in its Resolution No. 4 series of 2021 issued on January 29 in Surigao del Sur, declared
Cullamat as ‘persona non grata’ in the ancestral domains of the Manobo, Mamanwa,
Mandaya, Higaonon, and Banwaon Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous
Peoples (ICCs/IPs) of CARAGA Region. The declaration stemmed from the protest rally
302
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IX. (2021, July). 2021 CHR 9 Human Rights Situation Report.
303
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IX. (2021, July). 2021 CHR 9 Human Rights Situation Report.
304
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office XI. (2021, July). Human Rights Situation Report Jan-Jun 2021.
305
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office XI. (2021, July). Human Rights Situation Report Jan-Jun 2021.
306
Commission on Human Rights Regional Office XI. (2021, July). Human Rights Situation Report Jan-Jun 2021.
307
Commission on Human Rights CARAGA. (2021, July). The Situation of Human Rights in the CARAGA Region.