Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Mon Rodelas

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Indigenous peoples’ groups and church leaders urge the Philippine government to end militarization in ancestral domains, halt destructive projects, and resume peace negotiations.</p><p>This is part of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and International Humanitarian Law Month commemoration.</p><p>In an interview, Beverly Longid of Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas criticized the government’s continued human rights violations against indigenous communities, citing bombings, militarization, and “terrorist-tagging” despite official claims of ending the communist insurgency.</p><p>“What’s the point in hosting an international conference on international humanitarian law kung kayo nga mismo ay nilalabag niyo nga ‘yung mga batas at mga prinsipyo kaugnay nito?” Longid asked, pointing to the upcoming Asia Pacific Conference on International Humanitarian Law in Manila.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/11/harapan-2025-red-tagging-still-a-threat-to-life-security-brosas-says-2100">Harapan 2025: Red-tagging still a threat to life, security, Brosas says</a></div><p>She also said policies on mining and energy continue to threaten indigenous lands, noting that these projects are pushed “in the name of development” but rarely benefit local communities.</p><p>Longid urged the government to address the roots of armed conflict, including land grabbing, discrimination, lack of public services, and failure to uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent.</p><p>She also called for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), repeal of the Anti-Terrorism Law, and cessation of military operations in indigenous territories.</p><p>“Nananawagan kami sa gobyerno na gumawa ng mga sincere efforts to resume the peace talks between government and the CPP-NPA-NDF at kasama d’yan ‘yung pag-abolish d’yan sa National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict na marami na ‘yang kasalanan sa mga katutubong mamamayan,” she expressed.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/19/rejoin-icc-abolish-ntf-elcac-advocacy-groups-urge-midterm-poll-bets-2035">Rejoin ICC, abolish NTF-ELCAC: advocacy groups urge midterm poll bets</a></div><p>San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, head of Caritas Philippines, echoed the call for justice, acknowledging that the Church has been complicit in historical injustices, including land dispossession.</p><p>“We dream of a Church where everyone belongs and no one is invisible,” he said, urging solidarity with indigenous peoples and environmental defenders.</p><p>Citing data, Alminaza said nearly half of the country’s mining projects, totaling over 449,000 hectares, overlap with ancestral domains, while large-scale dams, energy projects, and agribusiness plantations displace or threaten indigenous communities.</p><p>He stressed that for indigenous peoples, “land is not a commodity, but rather, a gift from God and from your ancestors.”</p><p>While condemning abuses, Alminaza noted signs of hope: “Not all civil society organizations and Churches have been ignoring our indigenous peoples…Indigenous peoples, many in the room with us here today are leading the cause. You rise not only for yourselves, but for our common home, for the environment, and I would say for the future generations to come.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/4/supreme-court-reverses-comelec-decision-to-prevent-indigenous-person-to-run-for-governor-1705">Supreme Court reverses Comelec decision to prevent indigenous person to run for governor</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7P2BK4QMHYs?si=MU4VViZRGbQhThrY" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Longid urged the government to address the roots of armed conflict, including land grabbing, discrimination, lack of public services, and failure to uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent.</p>

Longid urged the government to address the roots of armed conflict, including land grabbing, discrimination, lack of public services, and failure to uphold the right to free, prior, and informed consent.

Indigenous leaders, church urge gov’t to resume peace talks with Reds

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Indigenous leaders, church urge gov’t to resume peace talks with Reds

Mon Rodelas,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 09, 2025 06:45 PM PHT

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International Humanitarian Law

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

human rights

commemoration

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