May 27, 2008

Mount Canatuan, Tabayo, Siocon Zamboanga del Norte – After almost five years of waiting, “Timuoy” or Chieftain Jose “Boy” Anoy of “Apu Manglang G’lupa Pusaka” or former Chieftain Manglang’s Ancestral Domain finally received yesterday the registered Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) was turned over to him by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) at the Tribal Hall, Paduan, Candiz, Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

Roland Buhisan, the community development officer of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) of Zamboanga del Norte personally handed the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) at around 10:30 am to Timuoy Boy Anoy

After a decade of struggle for the recognition of Subanon Ancestral Domain, Timuoy Boy Anoy shed tears of joy and happiness as he received the long awaited CADT. The historic event was witnessed by his people and visitors.

The sound of the “Agong” the traditional musical instrument reverberated in the mountains announcing renewed hope for the Subanen whose struggle for respect of their ancestral rights has to this day remained unfulfilled.

Timuoy Anoy has expressed his gratitude to his tribesmen and women for the tireless support given to him during their long years of struggle just to get this significant and important ancestral domain instrument which recognizes their rights to this more than 8,000 hectares of land in Siocon.

He also expressed gratitude to the DIOPIM Committee on Mining Issues (DCMI) for assisting them for the last ten years and for bringing regional, national and international non-government organization (NGOs) to Mount Canatuan and popularized the issue.

Anoy also thanked  the different organizations who helped them, financially, morally and through various forms of assistance especially by bringing their case to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discriminations.

Since 1994, the Subanon People under the leadership of Timuoy Anoy fought for the recognition of their Ancestral Domain and finally acquired the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Claim (CADC) in 1997.

Despite the recognition of the Ancestral Domain given by the Philippine Government,the operation of TVI is ongoing even without the consent of the legitimate owners.  The violation of the human rights of the Subanens in the area continues to this day.

On June 12, 2003, no less than the President of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally handed the CADT to Timuoy Anoy inside the compound of the Southern Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Zamboanga City.

However the original CADT copy was taken back by then NCIP Provincial Director in Zamboanga del Norte, Lista Cawanan Jr., in order to register the title at the Register of Deeds.

For almost five years, the CADT had been sleeping at the office of NCIP Provincial Office. Meanwhile the NCIP and other concerned government agencies did not do anything to prevent TVI from operating in the area even without the consent of the CADT holder.

During this time too, TVI launched a campaign to discredit Timouy Boy Anoy by creating a cloud of doubt on his  reputation through media releases.

This year, the former NCIP Provincial Director, was promoted as Officer-in-charge of the NCIP Region 9 and was replaced by Engr. Parolito Isaw as OIC Provincial Director.

Upon his assumption into office as OIC-PD, he immediately followed up the registration of Timouy Boy Anoy’s  CADT at the Register of Deeds.  After three months, the CADT has been registered and the NCIP handed it personally to Timouy Boy Anoy in the presence of his people, the descendants of Apu Manglang.

A thanksgiving ritual was officiated by Timouy Boy Anoy shortly after receiving the CADT.

SeveralNational and International Organizations witnessed the affair, among them Philippine Indigenous People’s Links in United Kingdom, Amnesty International represented by its Zamboanga City local Office, Legal Rights Natural Resources Center (LRC) from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippine Missereor Partnership (PMP), Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), Save Siocon Paradise Movement, DCMI, Prelature of Ipil Zamboanga Sibugay, “Gukom” or traditional justice group of Subanon from seven rivers in Zamboanga Peninsula, National and local Media.

 Pigsalabukan Bangsa Subanon (PBS), represented by Timuay Marcelino Lumanjal, was also there to give a message in recognition of this historic event, and to personally witness the turn-over ceremony.