House, Senate probes sought on IP issues highlighted in Bukidnon shooting

RESOLUTIONS have been filed in both chambers of Congress seeking investigations on a shooting incident in Bukidnon province during a protest activity of an indigenous peoples (IP) community that was attended by labor leader and presidential candidate Leodegario “Ka Leody” de Guzman on April 19.

“This violence and the attacks against indigenous people have been ongoing with impunity for quite some time now without resolution and proper intervention by the government,” Bayan Muna Party-list representatives said in House Resolution 2561.

Five members of the Manobo-Pulangihon IP community in Quezon town were injured after private security personnel shot at the group. The police regional office said last week that charges have been filed against the suspects.

“The recent shooting incident that includes the party of Ka Leody de Guzman is emblematic of how our justice system continues to fail them, an act which members of Congress should not countenance,” they added.

The Manobo-Pulangihon are asserting their claim on their ancestral domain, which they said has been illegally taken by a private firm that grows and exports pineapples.

Meanwhile, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel has also filed a Senate resolution to probe the land-grabbing allegation.

“Land disputes have been a longstanding issue in our country that often end in violence,” she said in a statement on Monday.

“Such incidents are repeated because we do not have a proper policy that will finally end the violence, especially against our indigenous people.”

“It’s time we have proper legislation that can address this,” she added. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan