It has been nine months since PAN AP launched its campaign to uphold the rights of the indigenous Higaonon peoples to their ancestral land in Opol town of Misamis Oriental in Southern Philippines. The campaign earned its biggest blow when mercenaries murdered Gilbert Paborada in October 2012 – for opposing A Brown Company’s illegal palm oil operation in the villages of Bagocboc and Tingalan. Worse, government authorities and agencies such as the Commission on Human Rights have yet to provide clues on the killing of Paborada. The commitment of the Department of Environment and Natural Reources (DENR) as well as the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to conduct their respective investigations on the illegal operation of A Brown in Opol seems to have been buried along with Gilbert Paborada.
With lobbying from the Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Party-list representative to the Philippine Congress, Congressman Rafael Mariano in December 2012 filed the House Resolution No. 2954pushing for a legislative investigation and ensure the protection of the rights and safety of Higaonon peoples in Opol. Several legislators followed suit in urging the national government to give redress to the plight of the indigenous farmers.
Meanwhile, the online petitions are ongoing and PAN AP enjoins everyone to help the family of Gilbert Paborada and the rest of the Higaonon peoples in gaining ground to finally achieve justice. The online petitions can be accessed though:
Support the farmers and indigenous peoples of Opol in reclaiming their lands.
No to land grabs!
A Brown out of Opol, Now!
For more information, contact:
Virgilio Tamayao Jr.
E-mail (direct): jingo.tamayao@panap.net
