Aeta group protests takeover of property

ANGELES CITY, Philippines  – An Aeta community is seeking the help of the government over the alleged takeover by non-indigenous groups of their ancestral land in the northern part of the Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Residents of Barangay Sapang Uwak in Mabalacat town have filed a formal complaint against members of the Aniban ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Hacienda Dolores and Alyansa ng Magbubukid at Residente ng Hacienda Dolores, who have allegedly been grabbing their ancestral domain since last year.

In a letter to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Aeta leader Paramay Sibal said members of the two groups fenced and settled on their property.

“They also sell goods such as coffee, rice and sugar at high prices while they buy the Aeta produce at a very low price,” Sibal said.

He wants the illegal settlers ejected and pay P50,000 in damages.