The recent signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA), facilitated by the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), is being touted as a step forward in protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Bangsamoro region. However, while the agreement is being celebrated, the harsh reality for the non-Moro Indigenous Peoples, particularly the Teduray-Lambangian, tells a much darker story—one of continued violence, displacement, and betrayal.
A Smokescreen for Injustice?
The MOA is positioned as a means to ensure the welfare and empowerment of IPs in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Yet, while government officials speak of inclusivity, peace, and protection, the lived experiences of the Teduray-Lambangian and other non-Moro IP groups reveal the stark contrast between rhetoric and reality. In recent years, the Teduray have faced violent attacks as they assert their ancestral domain claims, with the most recent and gruesome case being the beheading of a Teduray member in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao del Sur—just days after the so-called Grand Kanduli Thanksgiving.
This raises serious concerns about the sincerity and effectiveness of government interventions. If the national and Bangsamoro governments are truly committed to protecting Indigenous Peoples, why are these attacks continuing with impunity? Why do IP leaders continue to face intimidation, harassment, and even death when they demand their rightful lands?
The Root of the Violence: Ancestral Domain Conflict
One of the primary sources of conflict in the BARMM is the ongoing struggle over ancestral domain. The Teduray-Lambangian people have long fought for recognition of their ancestral lands, only to face violent opposition from armed groups and even elements within the Bangsamoro government. The passage of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act (BIPA) of 2024 was hailed as a milestone for IP rights, but the reality on the ground remains bleak. Instead of securing their territories, IP communities continue to be forcibly displaced, their lands encroached upon by Moro groups with competing claims.
This pattern of dispossession and violence is not new. It mirrors the historic marginalization of non-Moro IPs within the BARMM, where they have been consistently sidelined in governance and decision-making processes. While the MOA claims to uphold the rights of IPs, it fails to provide concrete mechanisms to stop the bloodshed and guarantee that Indigenous communities can safely inhabit their ancestral lands.
Empty Promises and Government Inaction
The statements made by IGRB officials paint a picture of harmonious cooperation between the national and Bangsamoro governments in addressing IP concerns. However, the absence of strong and immediate action against perpetrators of violence against Indigenous Peoples exposes these declarations as mere platitudes.
BARMM Education Minister and IGRB co-chairperson Mohagher Iqbal stated that the MOA “ensures that Indigenous Peoples are fully included in governance and decision-making.” Yet, how can IPs participate when their leaders are being killed? How can they trust in a governance system that has continuously failed to protect them from violence and displacement?
Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr. spoke of “championing IP rights” and fostering inclusive peace. But where is this peace when IP blood continues to be spilled on their ancestral lands? Where is the protection that the government promises when justice remains elusive for the victims of killings and land grabs?
The Way Forward: Justice and Genuine Recognition
If the government is truly serious about protecting the rights of non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in the Bangsamoro, it must go beyond symbolic agreements and grand ceremonies. The following urgent actions must be taken:
- Immediate Investigation and Accountability – The government must conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the killings of Teduray and other IP members. Perpetrators, including those with connections to influential groups, must be held accountable.
- Full Recognition of IP Ancestral Domain – The national government must ensure that the ancestral domain claims of non-Moro IPs are upheld and respected, without being subjected to further violence and political maneuvering.
- Stronger Protection Measures – Security forces must be deployed to protect vulnerable Indigenous communities, and mechanisms must be established to prevent further displacement.
- Genuine Representation in BARMM Governance – IPs must have real decision-making power within BARMM, not just token representation.
- Implementation of the Bangsamoro Indigenous Peoples Act – The newly enacted law must be enforced in a manner that truly benefits Indigenous communities, not just as a political tool for appeasement.
The government must move beyond hollow promises and ensure that Indigenous Peoples are not treated as mere spectators in their own land. Until real justice and security are provided, agreements such as the MOA will remain nothing more than band-aid solutions—failing to address the systemic violence and exclusion that non-Moro IPs continue to endure in the Bangsamoro region.
