Priest seeks probe of alleged coercion in South Cotabato mining project

A Catholic Church official in Mindanao has sought an investigation into alleged coercion in a mining project in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Marbel Diocese Social Action Center head Fr. Joy Pelino asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to look into alleged coercion involving its regional offices.

“We call on the NCIP to immediately and judiciously respond to the call of the IP. If activities are pursued, this comes out to be a continuous betrayal of the IPs rights and also of NCIP policies... we have yet to be clarified if what should be implemented in Tampakan is the 2006 or the 2012 FPIC Guidelines. And we continuously urge for the clear en banc decision on the matter,” he said in a statement, excerpts of which were posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines news site.

“In the end, what we seek is NCIP to be advocates for IP rights and be the voice of the IPs, and not facilitators of mining projects and other development aggressions,” Pelino said.

He cited information showing indigenous people (IP) groups were allegedly forced to agree to something they do not want.

The CBCP cited a statement from the Alyansa Tigil Mina claiming B’laan tribes people have initially submitted a petition for non-FPIC coverage, where they said they do not consent to the Tampakan copper and gold mining project.

It said five B’laan leaders from Bong Mal in Tampakan, South Cotabato went to Cagayan de Oro on May 27 to submit their position paper to the NCIP.

The paper sought an immediate postponement on any free prior and informed consent (FPIC)-related activities in their area.

Eking Freay said they are not ready for the FPIC processes because of supposed "unresolved cases of human rights violations."

He said two victims of such violations included his father Bong Fulong Anting Freay, and brother-in-law Sonny Boy Planda.

Eking was reportedly a victim of an ambush in 2013 by a task force securing the mining project area, the CBCP news article said.

The CBCP article also cited the ATM statement claiming the B’laan object to the NCIP Region 11 and 13's insistence in getting their consent to the Tampakan mining project. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News