Indigenous rights group KATRIBU Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas has denounced what it calls the “illegal demolition and forced eviction” of Mangyan-Iraya families in Sitio Malatabako, Abra de Ilog, allegedly carried out by Pieceland Corporation.
According to KATRIBU, the corporation has begun dismantling and removing belongings from the remaining 14 households in the sitio, following the Municipal Trial Court’s approval of a motion for execution filed by Pieceland. The order effectively authorizes the displacement of the Mangyan-Iraya community from their ancestral land.
Two Years of Dispossession
The controversy stems from Pieceland’s fencing of the area two years ago, intended for real estate development projects. Despite strong opposition from the Mangyan-Iraya, the community reportedly received no government support during this period. Instead, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) — mandated to safeguard Indigenous rights — has been criticized for its inaction.
KATRIBU asserts that the demolition constitutes a clear violation of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) principle, which guarantees Indigenous communities the right to decide on projects affecting their ancestral domains. The group says the Mangyan-Iraya were denied the opportunity to exercise this right, undermining their autonomy and cultural heritage.
Call for Accountability
“This is a blatant disregard of the Mangyan-Iraya’s livelihood, culture, and centuries-old ties to their ancestral land,” KATRIBU declared, stressing that Pieceland, the court, and the NCIP must be held accountable for enabling land-grabbing and forced displacement.
The organization is demanding:
– Immediate halt to demolition and eviction operations.
– Recognition of ancestral rights of the Mangyan-Iraya community.
– Justice for affected families who have suffered from displacement and loss of livelihood.
KATRIBU vowed to stand alongside the Mangyan-Iraya in defending their ancestral domain, framing the struggle as part of the broader fight against corporate land-grabbing and state neglect of Indigenous peoples. # (ZIA LUNA)
