ANTIPOLO CITY—As she signed a covenant with indigenous group 1Sambubungan here, promising to recognize the rights of indigenous people and their ancestral domain, Vice President Leni Robredo talked about her life’s work as a volunteer lawyer for indigenous people.
1Sambubungan is a group of IPs asking the Robredo and running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan for consultative approaches about government projects that sought to invalidate their culture and heritage.
“Pero 'yung sa akin po, ang pamantayan saka 'yung aming pangako na hindi kayo papabayaan, hindi sa sinasabi namin ngayong gabi, hindi lang po sa pinirmahan namin na manifesto para sa inyo, pero 'yung mahabang panahon na nag-aabogado tayo para sa mga katutubo (But for me, the measure of our promise that we will not neglect you, is not what we say tonight, not only in the manifesto we signed, but the longest time that we are lawyering for the indigenous people),” she said during the covenant signing at the Sumulong Farm in Antipolo City, Rizal.
The aspiring president talked about her work with the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) where she worked for more than 10 years.
Her close work with IPs is the reason why she picked former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., a member of indigenous tribes in Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya, as a senatorial candidate in her slate. He also signed the covenant.
“Ako po, sinisiguro ko sa inyo na popreteksyunan namin kayo. 'Yung pagpili po namin kay Congressman Teddy Baguilat bilang bahagi ng aming senatorial ticket, ito po 'yung pinakasimbolo kung gaano kayo kahalaga sa magiging administrasyon natin (For me, I will make sure that we will protect you. Our choice of Congressman Teddy Baguilat as a part of our senatorial ticket, this is a symbol of how important you are in our administration),” she said.
The tandem signed the pact during their campaign sortie in Rizal province, which has over 1.6 million registered voters for the May 2022 polls.
The covenant also sought the protection of the IP rights by existing laws and regulations, such as the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), Indigenous Political Structures (PS), Indigenous Knowledge, Systems and Practices (IKSPs).
Robredo said that they just didn’t sign the covenant because it is election season.
“Ang akin lang pong pangako, di niyo kami kailangang singilin dahil sisiguraduhin naming mararamdaman niyo ang pagmamahal namin araw-araw kapag kami ang nasa puwesto (My promise is you don’t have to collect from us because we will make sure that you will feel our love every day once we are in position),” she added.
She lamented that the free, prior and informed consent process under the IPRA law is often railroaded.
If elected this May, Robredo promised to secure the consent of IPs first on all projects affecting them.
The covenant also sought to recognize the important role of IPs in the progress of the nation and to ensure peace and health in the IP’s ancestral lands.
The pact asked the tandem to promise to change the kind of national progress that is anchored on big corporations.
This, the covenant said, will lead to a progressive nation that will care for the rights of the people, the environment, and the next generations.