Mabalacat tribesmen hit LGU for ‘intrusion’
-A A +ATuesday, September 25, 2012
MABALACAT CITY - Elders of an Aeta tribe have denounced the alleged infringement to the ancestral domain law of the local government of Bamban town, Tarlac, by erecting billboards inside the jurisdiction of sitio Monicayo in Barangay Calumpang without permission from village officials.
The tribesmen belonging to the Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association (Mata) complained that the Bamban local government illegally put up signboards and billboards along the barangay road of Calumpang and at the main entrance of Paradise Ranch at sitio Monicayo, which are under the territory of this city.
In their petition letter dated August 26, 2012, the Aeta elders also stated that they are denouncing the holding of a meeting near the Paradise Ranch at sitio Monicayo, where the Provincial Government of Tarlac reportedly established a satellite office.
The petition, signed by hundreds of Aeta leaders, was sent to Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Provincial Board (PB), National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP), and other offices and agencies.
“Sa kaugnay nito, ang aming kahilingan sa inyong tanggapan na kilalanin at patunayan base sa mga datos na ang sitio Monicayo Barangay Calumpang ay nasa hurisdiksyon ng Lungsod ng Mabalacat, Lalawigan ng Pampanga at hindi ng Bamban, Tarlac (status quo),” the Aeta tribesmen stated in their letter to Pineda, PB, and NCIP.
“Umaasa po kami ng inyong agarang pag-aksyon sa aming kahilingan para sa pagsubaybay na maisagawa ang pag-aalis (pullout) ng nasabing dalawang billboards at ang usapin sa compliance certificate,” the group added.
The complainants stated that there is an ongoing boundary dispute between the Mata and Bamban Aeta Tribal Association and Mabalacat City and Bamban town.
But they said there should be a status quo since the case is still being heard at the PB of the two provinces.
The Municipal Council of Calumpang, headed by Chairman Jaime Jimenez, passed a resolution condemning the establishment of Tarlac satellite office in their village.
Officials here described this as a clear intrusion and insult to the sovereignty of the local government of Mabalacat City.
Published in the Sun.Star Pampanga newspaper on September 25, 2012.
Local news
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