10-Point Agenda of LMPF

 

LUMAD MINDANAW respectfully submits this 10-Point Statement of Issues and Concerns for consideration by the candidates for President, who seek to govern and unify the Nation composed of Tri-People, namely the Christians, the Muslims and the Indigenous People.

1. Restructure the Legal Framework by adopting the “People’s Draft” Constitution. Kini lang paglaum nga adunay pagbabago. Kung walay pagbag’o sa Batakang Balaod, walay katumanan ang giingon nga “pagbabago”. Ang tanan estorya sa mga politicos aron lang makuha o mapadayon ang poder.

2. Restructure the NCIP and establish Service Centers per tribe. Paphaon ang Provincial Offices, ug NCIP Service Center per tribe ang ipuli. Provide ample budget for implementation. NCIP Central Office> NCIP Regional Offices> NCIP Tribal/People Service Center. Ang employees sa maong service centers gikan sa tribo mismo nga giserbisyohan, aron nga malikayan ang language ug cultural gaps sa NCIP SC ug sa mga komunidad. Malikayan dinhi ang graft and corruption, kay nagkailhanay man ang taga-service center ug ang komunidad.

3. Establish IP/Lumad Peace Sanctuaries in Mindanao to sustain the move to end local communist terrorism, particularly in the countryside.

4. Conduct demographic study on IP populations in the entire country, i.e. Luzon, Visayas & Mindanao.

5. Establish/Implement creation of IP barangays based on provisions of RA 8371 and RA 7160.

6. Allocate adequate funds for CADT and ADSDPPs, para mapadali ang pag-isyu sa mga CADT ug plano.

7. Provide IPMR in Congress (1-Luzon, 1-Visayas ug 1-Mindanao) and Regional Bodies. Revise for this purpose DILG Memo. Cir. No. 2010-119, and/or other relevant regulation.

8. Amend RA 10591 and/or IRR para ang mga tribal leaders ug mga bagani adunay katungod nga maka-armas agi og depensa sa ilang kaugalingon, komunidad, sa tibuok nga kayutaan sakop sa CADT. Ang “ancestral lands” nga gipanag-iya sa tribo o “private property”, mao sab ni ilahang “place of residence”.

9. I-implementar ang pag-amuma sa kinaiyahan, ilabi na ang kalasangan nga gikinahanglan ang pagpatuman sa reforestation sa mga CADT, pinaagi sa pagpananum sa endemic species. Protektahan ang mga tubdanan sa tubig nga nagsupply sa dakung kasyudaran.

10. Tangtangon ang NCIP sa 2012 JAO with LRA, DAR, DENR, kay “private property” ang “ancestral lands” sukad pa sa karaang panahon, bisan sa wala pa ang Republika. Cariño v. Insular Govt. (1909).

03 Pebrero 2022. Mindanaw, Pilipinas.

LMPF Position Paper on the use of the term "LUMAD"

LUMAD MINDANAW PEOPLES FEDERATION (LMPF) POSITION PAPER ON THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (NCIP) EN BANC RESOLUTION No.08-009-2021 s. 2021, A RESOLUTION DENOUNCING THE USE OF THE TERM "LUMAD" TO REFER TO INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (ICCs/IPs} PARTICULARLY OF MINDANAO, AND ENJOINING THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS ICCs/IPs BY THEIR AFFILIATION OR ETHNOLINGUISTIC GROUP.

 

We, at LMPF fully agree and express our deep appreciation for the enumeration and emphasis of the pertinent provisions enshrined in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines that committed and obligated the State to the recognition, respect and protection of our rights as Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs). Republic Act 8371 better known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) was enacted by the Congress of the Philippines as an enabling law to this commitment and obligation.

 

Republic Act 8371 is a world class domestic legislation crafted as a remedy to the centuries of injustice, neglect, discrimination, exploitation, oppression, manipulation and the like suffered by ICCs/IPs. Our collective suffering is a result of colonization particularly the imposition of discriminatory policies of assimilation and integration. Indigenous peoples are among the poorest and most relegated sectors of Philippine society. Thus, we experience neglect and discrimination in the provision of basic social services of the government.

 

The NCIP is mandated by law to be respectful and sensitive in its engagement with the ICCs/IPs, as the latter tries to regain, restore and strengthen its traditional self-governance structure.

 

In our view, the issuance by the NCIP of the cited resolution showed lack of sincerity and failed to conduct its affairs in accordance with the basic principle of due process and the rule of law. NCIP failed to consult the LMPF. This conduct is unbecoming of the primary state agency mandated to implement the applicable law, and to be respectful and sensitive in its engagement with ICCs/IPs.

LMPF is an institution of constructive partnership between and among diverse ICCs/IPs to assert their respective inherent, inalienable, collective and individual rights to identity, land and territory, self-determination and self-governance. LMPF is an independent indigenous peoples’ network that pursues and protects the legitimate and collective interest and aspirations of the ICCs/IPs through peaceful and lawful means [RA 8371, Chapter IV, Section 19]. LMPF has in fact contributed to the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act. It is also accredited by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations as an indigenous nongovernmental organization representing the Lumad Peoples (Indigenous Peoples) of Mindanao, Philippines.

 

The implied portrayal of the LMPF in the negative light under the aforementioned NCIP en banc resolution is unexpected and extremely alarming amidst the crises people are now suffering.

 

The LMPF Governing Council has a high regard for Datu Lito Omos being the first Lumad Mindanao General Secretary. We expect him to speak with integrity, and be mindful of the collective honor and dignity of his people, the Mangguwangan People. Nonetheless, Datu Omos and the Mangguwangan People cannot impose their will, judgement and worldviews on the other equally independent-cum-autonomous diverse indigenous peoples of Mindanao.

 

Accordingly, as we move forward, seek more realistic opportunities for constructive dialogue, to strengthen unity for our common aspiration to survive as peoples. Learning from the past, LMPF Governing Council has come to know that those against the collective interest and unity of the Indigenous Peoples, never fail to use and mislead fellow ICCs/IPs in their divide and rule schemes.

 

The term ‘lumad’ has been used prior to the Lumad Mindanao founding assembly in 1986. The NCIP allegation that the term is chosen by CPP/NPA/NDF to control the identification of ICCs/IPs is ridiculous, unreasonable and absurd.

 

While we seek to align our interests with the state addressing issues involving the CPP/NPA/NDF, any collaboration or cooperation should be respectful and mindful of the true history of the ICCs/IPs, and should not involve any twisting of history. The use of term ‘lumad’ should not be understood as monopoly of the leftist group. This gives much undeserved credit to the CPP/NPA/NDF.

 

Looking at global realities, even those nations/states that adhere to the so-called socialist ideology, have all failed to address the legitimate aspirations of the indigenous peoples. Self-determination and self-governance can only be possible if indigenous peoples implement it themselves. The primary solution to the problem of powerless of the indigenous peoples is to restore their power of self-governance, so that they may live peacefully and sustainably as they practice self-determination.

 

Finally, LMPF Governing Council calls on the NCIP to be fair, inclusive and non-partisan. It must be faithful to its mandate to protect ALL the ICCs/IPs, adhere to the principle of due process, abide by the rule of law, and most importantly, to be respectful and sensitive to the legitimate interests of all parties concerned.



15 Mayo 2021. Mindanaw,Pilipinas.

Declaration of Support for the Enactment of the Anti-Terror Bill

 

                                  

DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FOR

THE ENACTMENT OF THE ANTI-TERROR BILL

 

 

We, citizens of the Republic of the Philippines, hereby declare our full support for the enactment of the Anti-Terror Bill to safeguard the lives, human rights and democratic freedoms of the law-abiding people, against godless and inhumane non-state actors who use “terror” to promote their false ideologies.

 

We are tired of the 50-year armed struggle of the CPP-NPA-NDF that openly seeks to grab power from a democratically elected government, impose a godless and foreign ideology on peace loving people, and the killing of Filipinos by Filipinos through a class war, using force, intimidation, deceit and terror.

 

We are wary of the inroads of another foreign ideology under ISIS, that preaches religious intolerance, and seeks to incite fratricidal conflict between Christians and Lumads on one hand, and Muslims on the other hand, again using “terror” to gain absolute power and promote their false ideologies.

 

In this light, we reject and call for the immediate repeal of the Human Security Act (R.A. 9732), as a pro-terrorist legislation, that unbelievably imposes a P500k daily penalty on security forces that may otherwise commit even honest mistakes in pursuing terrorists, totally disregarding the difficulties and challenges in criminal prosecution under the rule of law.

 

Nonetheless, we affirm our full support for the democratic freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution, including the rights to freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, and to peaceably assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances, and express our readiness to defend these rights against “scalawags” who may abuse or misuse the otherwise legitimate police powers of the State.

 

 

Adopted in Metro Manila, Philippines, this 29th day of June A.D. 2020.



Tanggulang Demokrasya                     Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation

                                          

Brief History / Background of LMPF

 

Brief History / Background of LMPF

Lumad Mindanaw, now Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation or LMPF genesis can be traced in the 1970s when the result of the Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum II or Vatican II was implemented. Instead of converting the non-Christian natives called “national minorities” into Christianity, the church through the spirit of Vatican II recognizes the rights and lifeways of the native peoples. Converting or evangelizing is no longer the approach of churches particularly the Roman Catholic towards the non-Christian lumads. Prelatures, Dioceses or Archdioceses having tribal Filipinos or native populations in their area of responsibility established “Apostolate on Tribal Filipinos”.  Through seminars, meetings and other activities of these church institutions provided opportunities for the lumads to meet share and work together.

In 1983, a multi-sectoral alliance (composed mostly non-IP e.g. priests, nuns, brothers, bishops,  layworkers, farmers, laborers, youth, women, lumad, etc.) called Lumadnong Alyansa alang sa Demokrasya-Mindanao or LUMAD-Mindanao was organized. In the same year, this multi-sectoral alliance was the convener of the historic national “Land Congress” held the campus of the University of San Carlos in Talamban, Cebu. This congress with theme, “Land is Life” pushed two strategic agenda: 1.) Inclusion of the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities in the Constitution and, 2.) Drafting of an executive order for the creation “Commission on Ancestral Domain” or COAD.

Beginning 1985, LUMAD-Mindanao strongly endorsed a native from Baguio City, Professor Ponciano L. Bennagen as member of the 1986 Constitutional Commission drafting the 1987 Constitution. Through Bennagen’s efforts, the rights of the so-called ICC or Indigenous Cultural Communities were enshrined, for the first time, in the national charter. On the other hand the COAD draft was not signed by President Marcos into an Executive Order. However, when the legislative branch of Philippines was reopened in 1987, the Representative of North Cotabato 2nd District, Congressman Gregorio Andolana brought the draft to the House of Representatives and sponsors it as a House Bill. Due to several oppositions in House of Representatives, it took a decade of Rep. Andolana’s house bill to finally become a law—the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997/IPRA or RA 8371.  

In spite of the multi-sectoral LUMAD-Mindanao organization, the lumad leaders in the alliance asserted to form a “pure” lumad organization. Thus in 1986, Lumad Mindanaw or LM was created as the “pure” lumad organization. The principal agenda of LM is to struggle the fundamental rights of the Lumad Peoples to identity, land/ancestral domain and resources and self-determination/self-governance.

At first the operation of LM as the legitimate voice of the lumads in Mindanao went smoothly. But two years later, the LM Council of Elders raised their voice questioning the activities and the direction of LM as lumad organization. In 1992, the elders strongly recommended that the LM Executive body to review LM as organizations. The result of the review came out in 1993 and presented to the LM Council of Elders. However, the Council found out that the recommendations of the review was beyond their power vested on them as representatives of their respective local or community organizations. A Special Lumad Mindanaw General Assembly must be convened to tackle the result and recommendations that transpired in the LM organizational review.

Ug tungod niini napahitabo ang usa ka tigum nga gitambungan og kapin 100 ka delegado gikan sa nagkalaing-laing tribo, komunidad, kahugpungan sa tibuok Mindanao kaniadtong 24-29 Septiyembre 1994 didto sa komunidad sa Blaan sa Mulbulen o Maribulan, Alabel, Sarangani Province. Dinhi sa maong LM Spl GA gipresentar ug gilantugian sa nagkadaiyang ang resulta sa pagtasa kun review sa LM. Ang dakung butang nga nakita sa pagtasa mao nga ang Lumad Mindanaw ug ang mga local nga miyembro niini dili tinuod o genuine nga lumadnong organisasyon nga nagatumong o nakigbisog alang sa tinuod nga mulò sa Katawhang Lumad alang sa identity (ilhanan), ancestral domain (yuta sa kaliwatan) ug self-determination (kaugalingnan) sa Katawhang Lumad kun dili usa lamang ka campaign machinery sa CPP NPA NDF aron  ilang kab’uton ang ilang tinguhá nga mailog ang renda sa kasamtangang sistema sa pang-goberno ug ila kining pulihan sa ilang sistema sumalá sa ilang pagtuo kun ideolohiya.

Ang Executive Committee hugot nga nagrekomenda nga kinahanglan ang organizational restructuring sa Lumad Mindanaw gikan sa iyang pagka-campaign machinery ngadto sa tinuod nga lumadnong kahugpungan ug kalihukan nga nagatumong nga mahiusa ang matag-tribo sumalá sa ilang matag-kasaysayan, pagtuo ug pagdumala kun self-governance pinasikad sa matag-customary law, kultura ug tradisyon pinasubay sa framework nga, “Usa ka Katawhan/Tribo, Usa ka Teritoryo, Usa ka Pagdumala”  (One People/Tribe, One Territory, One Governance”). Subay niini nga kahiusahan, ang Lumad Mindanaw, gisumpayan og “Peoples Federation” o LMPF tungod kay nagalaraw nga ang LM usa ka pederasyon o confederation sa nagkalain-laing tribo sa Mindanao. Kinahanglan makabarug ang matag tribo ug mapalambo niini ang ilang kaakuhan isip sahì o distinct nga katawhan sumalá sa minimum standard nga gimbut’an sa United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ug sumalá usab sa nasudnong statutes sama sa 1987 Constitution ug sa enabling law niini nga mao ang RA 8371 kun IPRA.

The LM call for restructuring based on its framework was a declaration of independence from the power that be nga nagbahin-bahin ug nagpahimulos sa Katawhang Lumad. Tungod niini nasuko ang CPP NPA NDF sa LMPF ug gilunsad niini ang paglutos batok sa LMPF pinaagi sa pagbutang sa mga lideres sa ilang “order of battle” kun OB; character assassinations sa mga lideres sa LMPF diin giputol ang LMPF from national and international network and funding organizations. Sa kasamtangan kontrolado sa kalihukan ang kabukiran alang sa ilang protracted people’s war pinaagi sa estratihiyang guerilla warfare. Aron sa pagbawì sa kontrolar sa mga lumadnong teritoryo, nakahukom ang LMPF alang sa gradual nga pagmugna og peace sanctuaries sa mga ancestral domain o katilingbang lumad nga andam. Nakaseguro ang LMPF nga dili basta bastang buhian sa kalihukang kumunista ang ilang controlled areas. Kay nay mga recursos naturales nga makapabuhi kanila. Naa sa kabukiran sila makatago-tago. Naa pud sa kabukiran ang dagkung mga negosyo sama sa mga contractors, plantasyon, minahan ug uban pang negosyo nga gihimong gatasan o kuhaanan og revolutionary tax diin hilom pud ug very willing ang mga tag-iya sa maong negosyo nga mohatag ngadto sa CPP NPA sa bisan unsang pangayuon niini.

In conclusion, wala mag-affiliate o miuban ang LMPF sa CPP NPA apan gigamit kini isip makinarya sa komunistang kalihukan sa ilang pagpakibugno sa goberno. Maayo na lang nga kaniadtong 1994 nakahimo ang LMPF ug lakang nga makahawá sa control sa komunistang kalihukan. And the prize of it is diretso ihaw kung adunay mahibaw’ang sakop sa LMPF nga pwede nilang tirahon. Maayo pa ang security sectors sama sa pulis, CAFGU, military nga ilang madakpan kay ila pa kining gamitong pang-propaganda himuong POWs. Apan kung inila nga mga sakop sa LMPF walay daghang estorya—execute ! Ug kini pud ang hinungdan nga miduol kami sa military ubos sa paglaum nga basin mahatagan kami og pabor nga mahatagan og gamit pangdepensa. Kay walay kaakuhan ang among katawhan nga makapalit og armas. 

20 Oktubre 2019. Mindanaw, Pilipinas.

BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE LUMAD PEOPLES’ PROBLEM

BACKGROUND OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE LUMAD PEOPLES’ PROBLEM

The Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation (LMPF) started as “Lumad Mindanaw (LM) in 1980.  It was organized by progressive networks and organizations popularly known as “Tribal Filipino Support Groups”. Most of these networks were church-based: Catholic apostolates; different organizations and institutions of the Protestant’s National Council of Churches in the Philippines-NCCP; advocates of human rights, justice and peace; progressive sectoral organizations of farmers, workers, women, youth and the like. 

One of main programs of action of LM was the “struggle for the respect of Lumad rights to self-determination (RSD).” The Lumad Peoples, being one of the most oppressed and neglected sectors, naturally identified themselves with these support groups. For a decade or two, the Lumads and their territories became bases for guerrilla fronts. Large numbers of the members of the communities became active participants both in the meta-legal and underground movement as activists, propagandists and guerilla fighters. Even to this day, about 80% of the CNN combatants, controlled territories and “hostage” communities (masa) are Lumads. 

After a decade of existence, the Lumad leader of LM sought to put substance to the program of RSD. However, this move contradicted the CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN) ideological perspective of classifying the Lumads as primitive communal, backward and unscientific. In due course, support to LM by the CNN (CPP-NPA-NDF) organs were withdrawn. This led to the weakening and eventual cessation of the former’s existence. The Lumad leaders themselves were hounded with various threats. 

In the final moments of LM before it was abolished, the Lumad leaders were able to draft two important documents which articulated their vision as a united people: 1) The 1994 Mul’bulan Document that called for the restructuring of Lumad Mindanaw into a confederacy of genuine self-governing tribes and communities (adopting the concept of a “Peoples Federation”- Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation-LMPF; 2) the La Victoria Document which called for State recognition of the Lumad People’s rights and the Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in form of a treaty, consistent with the spirit of the 1987 Constitution that mandated the protection of the Lumads. 

Eventually, these two documents were superseded RA 8371 (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997) which recognizes, respects, protects and promotes the individual, as well as the inherent, collective and inalienable rights of the 14 million indigenous peoples in the country. 

However, after more than 20 years from the approval of this landmark legislation, the full intent of IPRA remains unrealized, particularly the delineation of ancestral domain. The government, particularly the legislative body, apparently gives lesser importance to IPs as shown by its allocation of a meager budget for the NCIP. In so far as LMPF is concerned, RA 8371 is among the more important statutes of the country that priority funding support, because it seeks to benefit the poverty-stricken and centuries-long neglected beneficiaries of the IPs, and the much needed delineation of their ancestral domain. 

This problem has been exacerbated by the fact that successive national administrations placed the RA 8371 implementing arm, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) under various departments as an attached agency. It seems that the DAR’s Certificate of Land Ownership Agreement-CLOA, and DENR’s mining and other permits, are processed and issued much faster than the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) or Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CALT). 

Out of the more than 30 Katawhang Lumad in Mindanao, only the Matigsalug Manobo of Bukidnon and Cotabato had its entire territory processed and awarded as CADT. The rest are still wondering how and where to secure funds in order to process the legal documents to cover their traditional territories. Meanwhile, mining corporations and other businesses aggressively and continually encroach into the land of the Lumads. This difficult situation has inevitably resulted to tension and conflict among the tri-people of Christians, Muslims and IPs.  

To bridge the deep divide or otherwise transform conflict into cooperation, the recognition, respect and protection of the land rights of the Indigenous People (IP) has been pointed to as the just and peaceful way forward. This will certainly promote and instill peace, development and cooperation among the tri-people. It will also finally address and curb insurgency in all the Lumad territories in Mindanao. 

Thus, the LMPF calls on the Government to place high priority for the budgetary allocation of adequate finance resources, coupled with strong implementation, to expedite the delineation of the ancestral domain of the IPs, under the concept of “One People, One Territory, One Governance” and in accordance with tribal governance based on indigenous political structures and customary law. 

The LMPF also calls on the Government to rectify the government’s long neglect, exploitation and destruction of the lands, territories and resources of IPs, including the review and revision of wealth sharing arrangements to ensure that the Lumad Peoples are given their fair, just and equitable share in the utilization and development of natural resources found in their ancestral domain. 

Finally, as the natural landscape of the Lumad Peoples’ homeland continues to be altered, destroyed and desecrated at an increasing pace, the LMPF strongly calls on the Government to carry out its constitutional mandate and fully protect the rights of the Indigenous Peoples to their ancestral lands, to ensure their economic, social and cultural well-being.

LUMAD MINDANAW PEOPLES FEDERATION

18 May 2020