T h i s assumes primordial importance i n the proposed M O A A D as the t i t l e i t s e l f s u g g e s t s t h a t i t i s a M e m o r a n d u m o f A g r e e m e n t on An Domains. T h e significance o f ancestral lands and ancestral d o m a i n s i n life o f indigenous peoples caimot b e overemphasized as they consider as l i f e t o t h e m - t h e v e r y r o o t o f t h e i r e x i s t e n c e . R i g h t s o v e r l a n d include recognition o f the spiritual relation indigenous peoples have their ancestral territories. In t h e Philippines, around 15 t o 2 0 m i l l i o n people belong indigenous peoples c o m m u n i t i e s (about 2 5 % o f R P population). T h e y ar located i n 5 0 o f the country's 8 0 provinces. T h i s significant sector society cannot b e ignored or neglected. O u r i n d i g e n o u s peoples, w h o are n o t m e m b e r s n o r part o f the M I L F , stand to b e directly affected b y the inclusion o f their ancestral d o m a i n proposed M O A A D . T h e y stand t o lose their land, their identity, their and their v e r y existence. F o r example, Iligan City's populace consists o f Christians, M u s l i and Indigenous Peoples such as the Higaonons and Kolibugans. M u c h t their surprise, eight o f the total 4 4 barangays, covering 8 0 % o f the w city, w e r e drafted t o b e included i n t h e proposed Bangsamoro Juri E n t i t y ( B J E ) . T h i s i s d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e c i t y v o t e d twice a g a i n inclusion i n t h e Autonomous Region f o r M u s l i m Mindanao i n pas plebiscites. W e ask, therefore, w h y a r e they included this t i m e ? There w a apparently n o w i d e multi-sectoral consultation o f the people i n t h barangays, especially the indigenous communities. T h e Filipino Indigenous Peoples w i s h any other sector i n the country. Y e t they setting a n agenda that addresses some o f C o m m i s s i o n strongly endorses proper fora A n d such fora should b e constituted n o w , agreement that w o u l d affect t h e m . Just last year, o r o n S e p t e m b e r D e c l a r a t i o n on the Rights of Indigenous said D e c l a r a t i o n are as f o l l o w s : and l o n g for peace as m u c h a have been denied participatio the root issues o f the conflic that could a l l o w t h e m a voic and n o t after, the s i g n i n g o f 13, 2 0 0 7 , the Philippines signed Peoples. Pertinent provisions o "Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. B y v i r t u e o f that r i g h t t h e y freely determine t h e i r p o l i t i c a l status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."^ "Indigenous peoples and individuals have the right not to be subjected t o forced assimilation or destruction o f their culture.""^ ^ Article 3 , Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples