Republika
ng
Pilipinas
Koitiisyon n g K a r a p a t a n g Pantao n g P i l i p i n a s
(Commission
on Human Rights of the
Philippines)
H u m a n Rights and the
Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain
An Advisory from the Commission on Human Rights
CHR
A 2 0 0 8 - 0 0 3
F o r i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s , ''Land is power
as a l l creatures
live on
and depend on land; L a n d is M o t h e r in that it feeds, it nourishes
provides,
it gives love to a l l and leaves it alone,
its always
offer something
to m a n ; and L a n d is H e r i t a g e for in it t r i b a
p
life and c u l t u r e f l o u r i s h and
resided
- Fr. Raymundo Hilot (Episcopal Commission on Tribal Filipinos
' W h i l e for some, l a n d signifies
a source of living,
to the
Ind
Peoples
- l a n d is life itself
While for some, l a n d is a mere sou
economic
g a i n , to the Indigenous
Peoples
- l a n d is the very r
their
existence.'^
T h e Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain ( M O A A D )
finalized a n d initialed b y the Government o f the Republic o f the Phili
( G R P ) a n d the M o r o Islamic Liberation F r o n t ( M I L F ) Panel o n the Pea
Process o n July 2 7 , 2 0 0 8 , raises important issues o n h u m a n rights vis
peace b u i l d i n g a n d h u m a n rights o f indigenous peoples, including t h e
to ancestral d o m a i n . S a i d M O A A D creates a B a n g s a m o r o Juridical E n t i
( B J E ) a n d seeks t o e n d t h e 4 0 year long M o r o armed struggle i n M i n d a n
W h i l e peace-building i s a laudable a n d long-desired objective,
that w o u l d enhance the environment for improved h u m a n rights promoti
and protection a n d prevent h u m a n rights violations done i n t h e name
insurgency a n d counter-insurgency, t h e measures proposed t o build
peace must b e carefiilly considered i n terms o f their impact o n the
political, economic, social a n d cultural rights o f the people o f the Phi
including, b u t n o t exclusively, those w h o live i n t h e areas affected b y
conflict.
The scheduled signing o f t h e M O A A D o n August 5, 2008 i n
M a l a y s i a w a s halted b y t h e Supreme Court, through t h e issuance
T e m p o r a r y R e s t r a i n i n g Order directing status q u o , u p o n t h e petitio
residents o f Cotabato, a n area w h i c h w o u l d be included i n t h e proposed
W h e n the proposed M O A A D reached the knowledge o f the Filipino
people through public media, i t w a s m e t b y vigorous opposition
r e s i s t a n c e from s e v e r a l s e c t o r s o f s o c i e t y , e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w h o s t a n d
Karapatang Pantao: Likas Sa Atin, Tungkulin Natin
Commoijwealth Avenue. UP. Complex. Diliman. 1101, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. Nos. 927-0172 • 928-2018