THE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) challenged those who accused them of connivance with mining and energy to provide evidences and file a case before the court citing that there statements are "generic and baseless."
NCIP-Davao Regional Director lawyer Geroncio Aguio said during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City on Monday, October 2, that those who accused them of connivance with big companies on the issuance of Certificates of Ancestral Domain (CADT), must specify their allegation of supposed anomalies in their office’s transaction.
He added that they must submit their concerns on the proper venue if they have solid proofs because statements without solid ground are mere propaganda which is only meant to taint the name of their office.
“[These are] general statement not really factual para lang sirain ang NCIP. It has no basis because hindi sila nag-file ng kaso,” he said.
Aguio said that they could not connive with these companies because of the legal procedures that should be undertaken in land title application.
“The IP should prove their ownership based on the content of IPRA, after they prove the ownership, they will be issued with title by the official. NCIP cannot issue anything sa domain if there is no permission from the tribe,” he said.
He said that there is a process in securing titles. Applicants should undergo deliberation with the commission en banc which has seven commissioners who will decide and give a nod. If they cited connivance, the commissioner could identify it.
“Akong gina-challenge ang mag issue ug connivance, nganli ang region (I challenge those who accuse us of connivance, identify the region). File complaints,” he said.