MABALACAT CITY — Some Aeta leaders are questioning the formation of the Sangguniang Tribung Aeta (STA) in what they described as divisive move among the indigenous people (IPs).
Danilo Adrias, village chief of Barangay San Vicente, Bamban, in his letter dated June 13, 2017 questioned the formation and composition of the STA claiming that the newly-formed council does not represent all of the Aeta chieftains in his town and in this city.
Adrias is requesting for an increase in the number of representatives in the STA from 6 to 13 to include himself and Oscar Rivera, a long-time leader of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (Bata).
For his part, Rivera wrote to the National Commission on Indigenous People on June 22, 2017 insisting that he should be included in the STA.
The STA has only six representatives which excluded Rivera, who was forced to bring the issue up to concerned agencies.
Rivera was a signatory of the Joint Management Agreement (JMA) for the development of the 10,600 hectare ancestral lands which was signed by NCIP, Clark Development Corporation and the Aetas.
Members of STA include Robert Serrano, Oscar Dizon, Tarsis Pamintuan, Michael Lundang, Marcelo Sumilang and Roy Tanglao.
Another group of Aetas from Sitio Baguingin of Barangay Anupul in Bamban, Tarlac is also opposing the STA as gleaned in its March 29, 2017 letter to CDC.
“Salungat po kami sa mga napiling anim na lider upang sumaklaw sa aming mga karapatan na wala kaming pahintulot sa kanila…” the letter stated. It was sent by 8 tribal leaders headed by Chieftain Rading Sibal.
The Mabalacat City administration earlier requested Councilor Ruvielane Serrano- Magarito, Serrano’s daughter, to inhibit herself from participating in discussions of JMA and CADT issues for alleged conflict of interest.
Margarito is an ex-officio member of City Council of Mabalacat representing Indigenous Peoples.
The Serranos are said to be connected with Vibro sand processing plant DFS Aggregates located at the ancestral domain area of the Aetas.
Serrano is currently the president of Mabalacat Aeta Tribal Association.
Margarito is calling for the cancellation of the Join Management Agreement (JMA).
In a meeting held recently with Aeta leaders, Vice-Mayor Christian Halili, Provincial Environment Officer Art Punsalan and Mabalacat Mayor Cris Garbo urged the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples and Aeta leaders to resolve the leadership issue among the IPs under the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT 025).
NCIP officials admitted that they may have a hard time uniting the two groups of Aetas.
“The leadership issue between and among the IPs themselves has created division and misunderstanding between and among the Aeta groups.”
