Tribesmen seek govt intercession on land claim

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: A group of tribal communities is asking the government to intercede in their effort to regain their claim to about 2,000 hectares of “ancestral lands” in Bukidnon, Datu Ikil Amas, the group spokesman said.

Amas called on The Manila Times on Wednesday asking for assistance to set up a peaceful dialogue with the present occupants (mostly from the Visayas) of the ancestral land in Kawayan, San Fernando, Bukidnon.

“The tribal communities are seeking media assistance so that the complaints of the tribal group would be heard by President Rodrigo Duterte,” Amas said.

He said the members of tribal communities, comprising 12 groups of the Tigwahanon tribe, are currently living in the outskirts of the ancestral land without food and suffering from various illnesses.

According to Amas, more than 90 tribal members have already died, mostly children and the elderly, for various illnesses because of the absence of basic health services.

He said the tribal groups want a dialogue with the present occupants of the mostly rice lands, in order that the tribal communities would be allowed to till the land.

Amas said the tribal communities believe that a peaceful dialogue could be attained with the active participation of the local government, particularly the agrarian reform officials.