abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

24 Nov 2019

Author:
CNN Philippines Staff

Philippines: Indigenous people's group files a case against Environment Secretary for allegedly allowing illegal operation of coffee plantation

"Environment chief sued for allowing 'illegal' operation of coffee plantation", 15 Nov 2019

An indigenous people's group...filed a case against Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu for neglect of duty, saying he did not block the "illegal" operation of a coffee plantation in ancestral land...

...The T’boli-Manobo S’daf Claimants Organization (TAMASCO) accused Cimatu of violating the Indigenous People’s Rights Act, which requires the approval of the community for any activity in their ancestral domain.

The TAMASCO legal counsel, Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, said the Dawang Coffee Plantation has encroached on TAMASCO's land... authorized by the government through an Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA).

The IFMA document...was renewed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) without the free, prior, and informed consent of the indigenous people, the lawyers said...

“We urge DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to...cancel the agreement that allows M&S Company to operate in our ancestral domain. For indigenous people, land is life. For 28 years, we have not been able to farm and make a living because of the plantation...” Datu Dande Danyan, chairman of TAMASCO, said...

Eight members of TAMASCO, including their leader, were killed in a military operation against rebels in 2017. International human rights and environment watchdog Global Witness said the massacre was connected to the land struggle.