Chuyo Updates

Early this morning, my sister Jessica brought some folders to the national office of the NCIP in Quezon city. These folders contained the following:

1. Certified xerox copy of the file of the Heirs of Mateo Carino and Bayosa Ortega docketed as BC-0364-CJ presently undergoing processing by the NCIP Baguio office since 2004, including earlier documents from the DENR CSTFAL.

2. Protest filed by the Heirs of Mateo Carino and Bayosa Ortega against the Petition for Validation of CALC and for Issuance of CALT by the Heirs of Ikang Paus docketed as BC-0122-GVJ, dated December 9 2008.

3. Order of the NCIP Regional Hearing Office CAR on the above mentioned protest, dated December 10, 2008, which advised the Commission en banc to suspend deliberations on the CALT application of the Paus family.

Jessica had these folders received in the offices of four commissioners, and by the clerk for the 3 other commissioners. Only one commissioner, Commissioner Rizalino Segundo of Region 2, was present. He informed her that the Commission en banc had already deliberated on the Paus claim positively, in a meeting in Baguio. Since this was endorsed favorably by the NCIP Baguio Officer Gladys Lasdacan, NCIP CAR Regional Director Amador-Batay-an, and Ancestral Domains Officer Myrna Caoagas, the Commissioners are ready and just waiting to sign the resolution awarding the CALT to the Heirs of Ikang Paus.

NCIP Chair Eugenio Insigne was not in his office. Jessica was informed that he would be out for the day, and would be going to Malacanang tomorrow. Hopefully, this visit to Malacanang does not have anything to do with Chuyo.

In a phone call this morning, Commissioner Insigne informed UNPFII Chair Victoria Tauli-Corpuz that the Commission was deliberating on awarding 67 hectares to the Paus family because they showed proof that they developed the area for 60 years.

These developments look bad not only for the Carino claim, but more so for the NCIP, whose mandate is to uphold the rights and well-being of the indigenous peoples. We hope that with proper consideration of the submitted documents, the NCIP Commission en banc will realize the validity of the Carino claim, and give due recognition to our rights to our ancestral land that we have long been fighting for since as early as the American colonial regime.

May the Commissioners be guided by the wisdom of our ancestors and by their commitment to uphold the rights of the rightful claimants and the indigenous people in the country.

And to the descendants of Bayosa: Hey folks, get moving. Don't be a sitting duck in this brazen case of corruption presently unfolding.