IP Summit

Peace is not just the absence of war or conflict. For indigenous women like me, peace is about kefiyo fédéw (a peaceful feeling). We need to be given the fundamental right to our identity and territory. It is our inherent birthright.  It is non-negotiable. 

Froilyn Mendoza

The Indigenous Peoples (IP) Inter-tribal Summit held on 26 September in Upi, Maguindanao, (Mindanao, Philippines), brought together representatives from Mindanao’s numerous indigenous groups. The culmination of months of consultations, the summit provided the opportunity for participants to learn about IP provisions in the newly endorsed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), as well as to discuss and develop consensus points for common understanding.

On March 2014, the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front reached a Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB). The agreement settles more than four decades of armed conflict by creating a new self governing entity called Bangsamoro, which has a majority Muslim population.

The summit kicked off bright and early with the opening ritual officiated by tribal spiritual leader Timuay Rodrigo Mokudef. Over 800 people from various IP communities were in attendance. Among them were members of groups ranging from the Teduray, Lambangian, and Dulangan Manobo in the province of Maguindanao to the Higaonon tribe from the municipality of Wao in Lanao Sur. 

Some 10% of the people in the Bangsamoro are non Islamized indigenous people. Indigenous Peoples have historically been marginalized by government and are now worried that the new self-governing entity might not ensure their rights to territory and their own governance. In the framework of an EU funded project to promote public participation in the Mindanao peace process, Conciliation Resources has supported a Summit of Indigenous Peoples aimed at developing a common position about IP rights in the future Bangsamoro entity.

Notable guests included:

  • Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer – Chairman GPH-MILF Peace Panel 
  • Col. Dickson Hermoso of the Philippine Army and troops of the Philippine Marines from the security sector;
  • Joey Bogay-Ancestral Domain Officer, National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Region XII; 
  • Local Government Unit of Upi;
  • Timuay Santos Unsad representing the Task Force for Indigenous Peoples Concern;
  • Hon. Commissioner Froilyn Mendoza – Indigenous Peoples representative in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC).
 

Rights respected in law 

Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer expressed her happiness at the positive results of the continued consultation and dialogue.  She stressed that the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples are recognised and respected under Article 9: Basic Rights of the proposed BBL, in the national law and even in international treaties.  
 
Prof. Coronel-Ferrer discussed the ongoing peace process, acknowledging several challenges including the conflict in South Upi (Bahar). Fortunately, the ceasefire committee had been able to intervene and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
 

[Peacebuilding] is difficult but there is always that desire to be able to see the fruition of this process so that we will be able to come closer to a society where everybody can coexist and peacefully compete with each other. 

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer

 
She also shared the different provisions in the BBL relating to the recognition of the rights of the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro, including Ancestral Domain and the native title Fusaka Inged. This title, she maintained, was vital, as it is more widely understood amongst Indigenous Peoples.
 

Challenges remain

Commissioner Froilyn Mendoza presented updates on the different provisions relevant to the IP in the Bangsamoro, including the challenges remaining for the future Bangsamoro Parliament in terms of legislating these provisions.
 
The enactment of the tribal electoral code as a basis for the selection of the IP sectoral representatives will also present a challenge.
 

Vested rights and declaration of consensus

 
Timuay Santos Unsad presented the Indigenous Peoples map that indicates the barangays and municipalities covered by the claimed territory of the descendants of the Mamalu.
 
He explained that the territory of the Teduray, Dulangan Manobo and Lambangian groups covers all the municipalities of North Upi, South Upi and portions of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Talayan Datu Abdullah Sangki, Guindulungan, Shariff Aguak, Ampatuan, Datu Hofer and Datu Saudi Ampatuan. 
 
Timuay Deonato Mokudef, the former Regional Legislative Assembly Assemblyman and now chair of Indigenous Peoples Technical Working Group, presented the consensus points on the issues of identity, territory, natural resources, administration of justice and customary rights, and ended with a concluding declaration.
 

On identity, the document affirms the Bangsamoro identity but also emphasises its distinct indigenous people’s identity as people with ancestral territorial domain, system of self-governance and justice system as well as collective stewards of resources in the Bangsamoro. 

Timuay Deonato Mokudef