prevailing notion that these are “domestic/family matters” despite the law. Local
initiatives are also challenged by issues of jurisdiction9. Victims are given
referals should they opt to pursue their case at higher level. Other actors
dealing with domestic violence include civil society organizations and NGOs but
their services are similarly limited.
Political discrimination includes cases10 involving of acts vilification/ red-tagging,
illegal entry, search and seizure of private property, harrassment, threat,
intimidation, surveillance, bombing and strafing, public disturbance,
indiscriminate firing, encampment in civilian houses and public facilities. These
are rampant in conflict-affected areas involving corporate claims over indigenous
peoples’ ancestral domains and usually involves the state military and corporate
para-military forces. These are just some of the documented cases directly
aggressing on indigenous women and these have been recurring with impunity in
several communities ( i.e Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, etc.)
since 2009. On top of the land and resource issues, communities are also caught
in the struggle between various armed groups and the state. In Mindanao where
encounters between armed groups sporadically occur, indigenous communities
are seriously affected. This has resulted to several killings of indigenous women
and children who are accused or related to accused supporters of armed
groups.
Lastly, although the documented cases of collective rights (the violations of
cultural rights and the right to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)) are both
below 4 percent, the numbers of victims are far higher than any of the other
cases – these being communities.
Perpetrators
Data collected shows that the highest in number of perpetrators are the elements
of the Philippine Armed Forces. Husbands come next with 53 counts.
Precipitating incidence include being under the influence of alcohol, jealousy and
no gainful employment. There are 14 and 11 counts of VAW committed by
employment agencies and employers, respectively. Twelve (12) cases involve
neighbors. In 12 other cases, perpetrators are unknown. Other perpetrators are
identified as live-in partner, mistresses of the victims' husbands, relatives,
boyfriends, classmates, government personnel, in-laws, unknown armed men,
foreigners, police officers and others.
The aggression to and violation of indigenous peoples’ collective rights
especially to land, resources and self-determination puts indigenous women at a
9
See
also
UNRIP
Report.
A/HRC/30/41
10
Some
of
these
cases
documented
during
the
Project
Inception
Workshop
have
been
cited
in
the
STATEMENT
OF
INDIGENOUS
WOMEN
IN
THE
PHILIPPINES
ON
THE
OCCASION
OF
THE
CELEBRATION
OF
THE
WORLD’S
INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES’
DAY,
9
AUGUST
2013
that
resulted
from
the
activity.
9