Chairperson Allen Capuyan of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (Screenshot from NCIP Facebook
MANILA – There is no reason for National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) employees and officials who are involved in illegal transactions or are not performing their duties to stay a day longer in office.
NCIP chairperson Allen Capuyan held a press conference on Monday to voice out his frustrations over non-performing officials who “have become a big part of the problem,” referring to issues and concerns which have not been acted upon for years.
He also bared the rampant selling of ancestral domains with local officials, including governors and mayors, involved in anomalous deals.
“I hereby call on NCIP officials and personnel to voluntarily tender their resignation. Said call is directed at those who are no longer effective in the performance of their respective mandates and to those who are unable and unwilling to respond to legitimate burning issues raised by ICCs (indigenous cultural communities) /IPs,” Capuyan said.
He added there are NCIP employees who respond half-heartedly, “aggravating the problem instead of solving.”
Most of the employees he referred to are “on the ground.”
In case no resignations are submitted, Capuyan said a thorough investigation will start based on the complaints they have received.
He likewise encouraged the public, especially members of the ICCs/IPs, to file complaints in case they experienced abuses or if Republic Act 8371 (Indigenous Peoples Rights Act) was violated.
Capuyan said the NCIP is heeding the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to carry out a cleansing process.
“Ito ay publikong panawagan kasi alam naman ng mga empleyado ng NCIP sino ‘yung may ginagawa na maayos, sino ‘yung hindi gumagawa ng maayos at patuloy na tinatakpan ‘yung kamalian (This is a public appeal because NCIP employees know who are or are not doing their jobs well and those who continue to cover up wrongdoings),” he said.
Selling, buying of ancestral domain
Capuyan said they have identified the areas where rampant selling, buying and unauthorized lease of portions of ancestral domain continue.
“Tuloy tuloy ang bentahan ng mga lupain ng katutubo o kung hindi man ay iba’t ibang pamamaraan, fake titles, dinadaan sa lease pero walang agreement. Nagtatayuan na lang ‘yung mga bahay, mga resort sa ibat ibang parte ng Pilipinas (The selling of land or different methods continue, fake titles, leases but without agreements. Houses and resorts are being built in different parts of the Philippines),” Capuyan said.
Local and village officials are involved but IP members have limited knowledge about the deals or fear the repercussions if they complain.
“I’m putting here my name on the line. Meron talagang nangyayari, may governor, may mayor, may barangay officials (Something is really happening. Governor, mayor, there are barangay officials [involved]),” he said.
“Panawagan din sa Pangulo. Kailangan ng intervention para maayos ang problema sa mga katutubo (I am also calling on the President. Intervention is needed to fix the problems of IPs),” he added.
Inactive NTF-ELCAC
Capuyan said the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has not been of help to them.
He said he personally witnessed how some NTF-ELCAC personnel failed or refused to perform their functions.
Such inaction would ultimately cause the task force to become irrelevant, he said. (PNA)
