NCIP issues CDO vs Lio estate

MANILA, Philippines — The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against the Ayala-owned Lio airport and tourism estate in Palawan, which is operated by Ayala Land Inc.’s subsidiary Ten Knots Philippines Inc. (TKPI).

Sought for comment, Ayala Land said all operating properties of TKPI in El Nido have the necessary titles, permits, and licenses.

TKPI said it has been cooperating with NCIP on the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process, which is a specific right that pertains to indigenous peoples. It allows them to give or withhold their consent on any project that may affect their territories.

“Nevertheless, TKPI has been cooperative with NCIP on the Free Prior and Informed Consent process (FPIC),” the company said.

In a statement, NCIP said TKPI refused to do the FPIC process with the Tagbanuwa Tandulanen IP community of Palawan, which was why it was issued a CDO under RA 8371 or The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

“… you are hereby directed to cease and desist, immediately upon receipt of this order, from operating with respect to the projects located at (Barangays) Villa Libertad and Pasadena, all in El Nido, Palawan. Otherwise, we will be constrained to undertake and/or to file the necessary legal action/s for violation of the provisions of IPRA,” according to the order.

The CDO was signed by NCIP Mimaropa regional director Marie Grace Pascua.

On Feb. 13, NCIP issued a show cause order to TKPI addressed to its legal counsel, Angara Abello Concepcion Regala Cruz (ACCRALAW) in relation to the FPIC.

Previous to that, four notices to comply were already issued by NCIP since September 20, 2021.

The Lio Tourism Estate is a 325-hectare master planned beach residential village with 4.2 kilometer white sand beach front.

TKPI owns and operates four island resorts in Palawan – Apulit, Miniloc, Lagen, and Pangulasian, which have been operating for decades.

The locations of the resorts are also being claimed by the Tagbanuwa Tandulanen IP community as part of their ancestral domain.