Spotlight on the invisible

CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer for its two-part special on indigenous peoples (IPs) in Mindanao and their plea to have their voices heard in the deliberations over the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The special report echoed the pleas of IP groups, who live within the Bangsamoro and contiguous areas, that the BBL recognize their right to ancestral domain and self-determination.

The Bangsamaro law must be inclusive, the Inquirer quoted tribe leaders as saying. The IP leaders felt that despite assurances from the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, their voices and concerns are still being ignored. (“Tribal folk seek voice in Bangsamoro”, Jan 25; “Bangsamoro law must be inclusive, says tribe leader”, Jan. 26) The article also touched on whether the new Bangsamoro territory would be consistent with the Indigenous People’s Rights Act.