9.3 Formation of the Government Linkages Office (now Policy Advisory Office) to focus specifically on engaging with governmental institutions to more effectively monitor and promote State compliance with its treaty obligations. 10. Other activities carried by CHRP in the past two years related to protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples include: 10.1. Human Rights Promotion at the National level: a. In December 15-17, 2015, CHRP supported the workshop “Building Sustainable, Resilient and Rights-Inspired Communities of Lumads in Mindanao” which gathered around twenty five leaders representing the following ethnic tribes – Ata Manobo, Agusanon Manobo, Teduray, Mansaka, Balaan, Kiritekan Menuvu, Erumanen Ne Menuvu, Subanen, Mandaya and Higaonon. This meeting surfaced the ESCR-related needs of the Lumad members. As a follow-up, in June 21-23,2016, a consultation “Empowering the Lumads Pursue Their Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR)” was conducted with partners coming from various government agencies dealing with education, health, local governance, social services, environment – as well as select members coming from the diplomatic community and donor partners such as the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Swiss, German Embassies and WorldBank. b. In November 24-25, 2016, CHRP in coordination with the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Department of Natural and Environment Resources (DENR) facilitated a consultation-dialogue in Butuan City between the Ponson Tribe, the Carrascal Mining Company and the Marc Ventures Mining Company. Concerns discussed include environmental degradation, encroachment of mining activities in the Manobo-Ponson ancestral domain. 10.2. Human Rights Protection at the National Level a. In November 2015, CHRP also participated in the public inquiry initiated by the Committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities of the House of Congress on the alleged violations committed to more than 600 Mindanao-based indigenous peoples groups “encamped” at the compound of the United Church of Christ of the Philippines (UCCP) in Haran, Davao City. b. In July 15,2016, CHRP wrote to the Office of Police Director General Ronald De la Rosa of the Philippine National Police (PNP) requesting for a security detail/assistance for Datu Nestor Apas a Mandaya who complained of being harassed by the New People's Army ( a rebel group in the Philippines). In 20 July 2016, CHRP also officially coordinated with the Office of Police Director General Ronald De la Rosa of the Philippine National Police, PCSupt. Dennis Siervo of the PNP-Human Rights Affairs Office (PNO-HRAO) and its Internal Affairs Services (IAS) to investigate on the alleged harassment committed by police elements against Hawudon Kidlat Ruperto Ponson, a tribal leader of the Manobo tribe from Carrascal, Surigao del Sur. Latter sought assistance from CHRP and also complained that when his house was raided in November 4,2014, personal belongings which he considered as tribal heirlooms were unlawfully taken from him.

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