MALAYBALAY CITY–The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Bukidnon has expressed support to the plan of Governor Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. to remove some indigenous people (IP) groups believed to be from other places and currently settling within ancestral domains of the province’s tribal communities.
Sponsored by Board Member Richard Macas, Wednesday’s SP resolution authorized Zubiri to eject the “ïntruding” tribal groups from the province–specifically in Manolo Fortich town.
Macas, who is the indigenous people’s mandatory representative (IPMR) to the SP, said the ancestral domain claims in Guilang-guilang, Sankanan and other villages in Manolo Fortich town are being occupied by IP “intruders”.
It was not clear, however, in what way Zubiri would exercise the authority given to him by the provincial legislative body, nor did it lay down the legal bases for the removal of certain IP groups that are not traditionally inhabitants of the province.
Some IP groups–especially those belonging to the hunter-gatherer tribes–are known to crisscross boundaries and do not observe modern political boundaries.
Nonetheless, Zubiri proposed the creation of a task force that will oversee the ancestral domain claims in the province and evaluate the claims of certain groups.
With the creation of the task force, the governor said the police and the military can be called should the need arises.
Board Member Ranulfo Pepito said the creation of the task force will be assigned to the Peace and Order committee.
In his request for authority from the SP, Zubiri said he was compelled to ask for authority to deal with the IP “intruders” after the province’s ancestral domain claimants called his attention on the matter.
Zubiri said most of the IP “intruders” hail from Cagayan de Oro City and the Agusan provinces.
“Their leaders have claimed the land as their own, though they came from other places,” Zubiri said. (Mel Madera/PNA)
