MABALACAT CITY -- The new administration, under the leadership of Mayor Cris Garbo, has requested Councilor Ruvielane Serrano Magarito, a representative of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the City Council, to inhibit herself from participating in discussions related to the Certificate of Ancestral Domain (CADT) issues for alleged conflict of interest.
The stand of the Garbo Administration was relayed in a recent en banc session of the City Council for Margarito to remain neutral as she represents all Aetas of this city.
Margarito has been vocal in pursuing the interests of Sangguniang Tribung Aeta (STA), one of the many feuding groups claiming to have authority to negotiate for Aetas for CADT inside Clark Special Economic Zone.
The session was attended by Aeta leaders and supporters of Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (Bata), Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association (Mata), and other IP groups.
Margarito is an ex-officio member of Mabalacat City Council representing IPs as a whole tribe.
She is also the daughter of Robert Serrano, who is said to be allegedly connected with Vibro sand processing plant DFS Aggregates located at the ancestral domain area of the Aetas.
Serrano is currently the president of Mata and vice president of STA.
The STA is being opposed by other Aeta groups such as the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association, the San Vicente Tribal Association, and another group in Sitio Baguingin Anupul, Bamban, Tarlac headed by a certain Rading Sibal.
The STA has been claiming that they have been duly recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to be the legitimate group that should represent the Tribong Aeta.
It can be recalled that Margarito is calling for the cancellation of the Join Management Agreement (JMA). The JMA is the contract signed by Clark Development Corporation (CDC), NCIP and the Tribong Aeta represented by Oscar Rivera of Bata in December 2007.
Some 15,000 Aetas are registered under the communal ownership of the CADT 025-A which covers about 10,600 hectares at the Clark Freeport subzone in the boundaries of Mabalacat City in and Bamban town in Tarlac.
In a meeting held recently with Aeta leaders, Garbo together with Vice-Mayor Christian Halili, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Officer Art Punsalan urged the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples and Aeta leaders to resolve the leadership issue among the IPs under the CADT 025.