Boracay Island, Philippines. Photo: CBCP News
27 March 2024
Manila, Philippines
We, the undersigned, express solidarity with the Atis of Brgy. Manocmanoc, Boracay Island, Aklan, and condemn the harassment committed by developers three days ago.
Despite the Lenten season, land grabbers and greedy corporations do not respect the solemnity of this Holy Week, as well as the rights and welfare of the Ati people living on Boracay Island. They do not rest from oppressing vulnerable people.
Last March 24, a group of armed security personnel forced their way into an area part of the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) awarded to the Ati tribe in 2018. They built fences to prohibit the Ati residents from entering their houses and properties, as the group claimed that the land rights under the CLOA had been revoked by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
Ati's 3.1 hectares of agricultural land were awarded by former President Duterte through DAR. Since then, the tribe has cultivated and developed the land. They have produced agricultural products such as vegetables, livestock, and dragonfruit that supply not only their community but also hotels and restaurants on the island of Boracay.
Teddy Baguilat Jr., President of the Indigenous Community Conserved Areas Consortium (ICCA) and of Angat Kalikasan Pilipinas (AKaP), denounced the actions of the land grabbers, "Desperate people use desperate methods, and in cases like this, land grabbers always resort to violence. They do not respect Ati's rights, lives, and culture. They also do not respect the rule of law, as they forcefully implement an order that has not been verified. Whether the land that originally belonged to the Ati people has been "revoked" or not, treating them inhumanely should not be part of the process of claiming the area."
Facilitator of the National Land Coalition in the Philippines, Mr. Timothy Salomon, said, "This is not the first time this kind of aggression happened against the Ati people with Dexter Condez, an Ati youth leader, sacrificing his life 11 years ago. We condemn the use of violence by the developers, spreading fear and triggering trauma among the Ati community. The Ati have native rights as original stewards of Boracay Island-- which has already been recognized by the government. They do not deserve this treatment on THEIR land."
We demand that DAR officials review the Motions for Reconsideration (MRs) that the Ati tribe filed before the Court of Appeals but suspiciously denied without proper investigation. We also demand that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) enforce the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act and hold the developers accountable for grave violations committed against the Ati's right to their ancestral domain.
As of now, the Ati people are still prohibited from accessing their homes.
For more information, please contact:
Karl Isaac Santos
Communications Officer, National Land Coalition Philippines
karlisaacsantos@gmail.com
+639176758883