LAND DISPUTE
Army, militants clash over ancestral land

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

Jory Porquia of Migrante negotiates with 3rd ID's Major Larry Mojica for them to be allowed to hold a protest rally outside Camp Peralta , Jamindan , Capiz . The Army allegedly stopped the protesters from holding a rally.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) 3 rd Infantry Division and militant groups have again clashed over who really have the rights over the thousands of hectares of land in Tapaz , Capiz .

The Tumanduk (natives) claim the property that is now covered by the military camp as their ancestral land.

Relative to this, Department of Land Reform secretary Rene Villa told reporters that the issue was already raised before President Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo who visited Roxas City and Iloilo City yesterday.

“There is a little legal problem which we will discuss with the Department of National Defense soon,” Villa said.

On March 2, the Tumanduk , supported by cause-oriented groups from Iloilo City like Migrante , Pamanggas and Bayan attempted to stage a rally at Camp Macario Peralta, Jamindan Capiz “in their struggle for their ancestral land”.

However, the group alleged that at about 3.5 kilometers away from the camp, they were already stopped by elements from the 3 rd ID led by Maj. Larry Mojica for the reason that they had no permit to hold a rally.

Meanwhile, 3 rd ID public information officer Maj. Lyndon Sollesta stressed that “if there is any complaint lodged against us, we will face it in a proper forum”.

He said the rallyists were barred from going near the camp since they did not inform the Tumanduk chief regarding the protest action. They should also coordinate with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) if they want to have a dialogue, Sollesta added.

Sollesta noted that most of the protestors, some 80 of them were not members of the Tumanduk community, but were members of militant groups.

He added the complainants were “using the recycled issue” like the AFP's firing activities and combat patrols as they alleged that the natives are being “intimidated and threatened”.

“No one was hurt,” Sollesta pointed out referring to the allegations of the group. Likewise, he reiterated that since the 3rd ID was established in the area, “no one was ejected”.

Sollesta said the military had been surveying the camp in defining the borders but the indigenous peoples were afraid that they might be shoved away. This was also one way to determine how many of them are within or outside the camp, he said.    

“When the Tumanduks from Tapaz arrived at Brgy . Jaena Norte, army officers were already dispatched along the road to stop vehicles for inspection and would not allow the Tumanduks to proceed,” the group alleged. 

“After almost one hour of negotiations, the Tumanduks were then allowed to conduct their activity at the Barangay Hall of Jaena Norte, Jamindan ,” the group said in a statement citing that “almost one hundred Tumanduks joined the rally”.

They also claimed that Mojica insisted that they had to secure a permit first before holding a rally.

“But the group's lawyers, Atty. Janne Baterna and Atty. Neil San Felix asserted the group's right to express their sentiments,” the statement further said.

They noted that Jamindan Mayor Vincent Advincula arrived and talked to the 3 rd ID officials about the situation.  After the negotiations, the protesters proceeded with their program.

“When the Tumanduks arrived at the Jaena Norte Barangay Hall, some army officers were seen to clear up some of their equipment in the hall.  It was learned that the barangay hall was used as one of the 3 rd ID's command posts in the area,” the group said.

The Tumanduks from Jamindan , who were already at the supposed venue of the rally, joined fellow Tumanduk from Tapaz at the barangay hall for the activity.

“ Tumanduk Chairperson Roy Giganto during the program called for the repeal of Presidential Proclamation 67 which claimed 33,310 hectares of Tumanduk ancestral land as military reservation for the Philippine Army of the AFP,” the group cited.

“We will continue fighting for our ancestral land. It belongs to us and to our children,” Giganto was quoted as saying.

Julieta Dalid of Daan Sur , a woman IP leader added that “our ancestors fought for these lands, and this is where we will also die.”

The Tumanduk has initiated a petition signing demanding the repeal of PP 67.  They will submit the position paper to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz . “Earlier, Board Member Gilbert Ardivilla passed a resolution calling the Congress and President Arroyo to repeal PP67,” the group said.

“Bayan is defending people's right to self-determination and their right to life. And PP 67 violates those rights of the Tumanduks . No amount of harassment, intimidation and fear will stop us to assert these rights,” declared Boy Bosque of Bayan – Panay .