Church helps Mangyan leaders defend rights, communities
MANILA – Over the past months, Mangyan indigenous communities in Mindoro have been subjected to militarization, land-grabbing, and other forms of human rights violations.
“There are times when some of our people are being arrested without our knowledge and permission from our community. They are being subjected to violence, and in the past, we didn’t know the process and what to do,” Popoy Among, a 29-year old Mangyan-Hanunuo in Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro, said in vernacular.
The situation prompted the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) and the United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) to hold leadership and paralegal training under their Abundant Life and Care for Creation (ALCC) program.
The Diocese of Romblon and Mindoro gathered the priests, deacons, and Mangyan leaders for the training. Workshops included filling out paralegal forms, identifying legal remedies, and assessing risks under laws such as the Anti-Terror Act. Two participants—a Mangyan leader and a deacon—shared their own experiences of harassment and violations.
“The training teaches us how to fight for our rights. Some of us are no longer silent nor do we submit in fear,” Among said.
This year, Mindoro province experienced intensified militarization and reported aerial bombings which resulted in encroachment of ancestral lands. Karapatan Southern Tagalog launched the Defend Mindoro campaign to defend the province from further human rights violations.
“During armed encounters when militarization is intense, we cannot go to the uplands to gather food. We usually spend a week without access to food,” Among said.
In a separate Bulatlat report, Mangyan Iraya indigenous communities from Sitio Malatabako faced hamleting and food blockade after the takeover of their ancestral lands by Piece Land Corporation for their real estate and commercial projects. Residents were prohibited from farming or leaving their village, while the presence of the military and armed security forces continued unabated.
Since the program’s rollout, the number of Mangyan leaders trained as lay readers and paralegal workers has increased, creating a vital human rights resource pool within their own communities.
Bishop Ronelio Fabriquier of the Diocese of Romblon and Mindoro said in an interview that since the outsiders are often barred from entering conflict areas, teaching Mangyan leaders is a better approach for the defense against human rights violations.
“We have experienced when the Mangyan people themselves cannot go to the lowlands [especially during intense militarization]. It is one of the challenges in implementing the program. It took us four to six hours to go to their communities,” Fabriquier said. “Reporting human rights violations also becomes easier. When there are reports, they immediately send us a narrative. It is more dangerous if the priests themselves have to go up there to verify the situation. With the presence of the Mangyan leaders alone, they can conduct the documentation. It is a safer option too.”
The Philippines remains a dangerous country for land and environmental defenders, which includes the indigenous peoples, according to the recent report of Global Witness.
Last August, in commemoration of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) month, Makabayan lawmakers filed four House resolutions directing the House Committee on Human Rights to investigate alleged grave human rights violations and IHL breaches in Mindoro, Cordillera, Ilocos, and Negros provinces. IHL, also known as the rules of war, prohibits all forms of attack on the civilian population, which includes indigenous communities.
“We hope to continue our presence and our initiatives until they can rely on themselves to defend their right to self-determination. We found that the presence of the church is a presence of hope and joy on them. Despite the challenges, they continue to hope,” Fabriquier said. (DAA, RVO)
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This article is produced by Iglesia Filipina Independiente, under their Abundant Life and Care for Creation (ALCC) program.
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