PAGADIAN CITY—Moro rebel leaders assured the indigenous Subanen tribes in the Zamboanga Peninsula a future Bangsamoro sub-state in Mindanao that would result from peace negotiations with government is not adversarial to their respective rights over an ancestral domain.
Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel, said ancestral domain as contemplated in their proposed peace pact defines a territory for self-governance.
Ancestral domain as defined in the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) refers to proprietary rights over a particular area where the tribes have traditional historical presence, Lingga added.
The MILF negotiating panel interacted with Subanen leaders here on Wednesday as part of its ongoing series of dialogues with various sectors and stakeholders of the Mindanao peace process.
Lingga’s explanation was in response to a request by Kolibugan community leader Barahama Amil for the MILF to drop some territorial stretches in areas of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte in its definition of homeland in favor of the Subanen people’s ancestral domain claim.
The Kolibugan refer to indigenous Subanens who are Islamized. They inhabit portions of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.
Lingga told the Subanen leaders to continue with their existing efforts to have their ancestral domains titled by the Philippine state.
“If you would be able to obtain title over your lands, the Bangsamoro sub-state respects individual and group rights,” Lingga stressed.
“In addition, you don’t have to worry because we are not separating from the Philippine republic,” he further explained.
“Only that the Bangsamoro sub-state will have a different relationship with the central government in terms of political administration,” he added.
The Zamboanga Peninsula is home to the Subanens, which number some 200,000 population, accounting for the largest non-Moro people in Mindanao.
Subdivided into 18 sub-linguistic groups, the Subanens claim as their ancestral domain vast areas in the region which also happen to host rich mineral reserves.
Years of massive post-Second World War logging operations in the region have driven the Subanens from choice areas in the plains into the mountains.
B’laan Datu Antonio Kinoc, another member of the MILF panel, said that politically, the Kolibugans can choose to become part of the Bangsamoro polity or not in a plebiscite to be conducted to solicit their consent.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the rebel group’s proposal is even superior in terms of vested rights than that granted by IPRA.
“It includes not only control over territory but also of strategic resources like mineral reserves. So in this sense, it would be more beneficial to be part of the Bangsamoro political community,” he explained.
Under present laws, indigenous communities that agree to host mining operations get one percent of gross receipts from mineral production.
The Philippine constitution vests ownership of mineral in the state, which in turn, grant mineral extraction rights to companies.
Timuay Fernando Mudai, chair of the peninsula-wide federation Pieksalabukan Bansa Subanen (PBS), praised the MILF panel for “opening up to us your proposed peace formula.”
“Now we know how we can help our brother Moros in their aspiration for self-determination,” he said.
Indigenous narratives point to the common ancestry of Moros and non-Moro natives in Mindanao which, Mudai said, should be fostered further to pursue “our common longing against historical injustice.” Ryan D. Rosauro
Prof. Abhoud Syed Lingga, a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel, said ancestral domain as contemplated in their proposed peace pact defines a territory for self-governance.
Ancestral domain as defined in the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) refers to proprietary rights over a particular area where the tribes have traditional historical presence, Lingga added.
The MILF negotiating panel interacted with Subanen leaders here on Wednesday as part of its ongoing series of dialogues with various sectors and stakeholders of the Mindanao peace process.
Lingga’s explanation was in response to a request by Kolibugan community leader Barahama Amil for the MILF to drop some territorial stretches in areas of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte in its definition of homeland in favor of the Subanen people’s ancestral domain claim.
The Kolibugan refer to indigenous Subanens who are Islamized. They inhabit portions of Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Norte.
Lingga told the Subanen leaders to continue with their existing efforts to have their ancestral domains titled by the Philippine state.
“If you would be able to obtain title over your lands, the Bangsamoro sub-state respects individual and group rights,” Lingga stressed.
“In addition, you don’t have to worry because we are not separating from the Philippine republic,” he further explained.
“Only that the Bangsamoro sub-state will have a different relationship with the central government in terms of political administration,” he added.
The Zamboanga Peninsula is home to the Subanens, which number some 200,000 population, accounting for the largest non-Moro people in Mindanao.
Subdivided into 18 sub-linguistic groups, the Subanens claim as their ancestral domain vast areas in the region which also happen to host rich mineral reserves.
Years of massive post-Second World War logging operations in the region have driven the Subanens from choice areas in the plains into the mountains.
B’laan Datu Antonio Kinoc, another member of the MILF panel, said that politically, the Kolibugans can choose to become part of the Bangsamoro polity or not in a plebiscite to be conducted to solicit their consent.
MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said the rebel group’s proposal is even superior in terms of vested rights than that granted by IPRA.
“It includes not only control over territory but also of strategic resources like mineral reserves. So in this sense, it would be more beneficial to be part of the Bangsamoro political community,” he explained.
Under present laws, indigenous communities that agree to host mining operations get one percent of gross receipts from mineral production.
The Philippine constitution vests ownership of mineral in the state, which in turn, grant mineral extraction rights to companies.
Timuay Fernando Mudai, chair of the peninsula-wide federation Pieksalabukan Bansa Subanen (PBS), praised the MILF panel for “opening up to us your proposed peace formula.”
“Now we know how we can help our brother Moros in their aspiration for self-determination,” he said.
Indigenous narratives point to the common ancestry of Moros and non-Moro natives in Mindanao which, Mudai said, should be fostered further to pursue “our common longing against historical injustice.” Ryan D. Rosauro
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