The decision of the Supreme Court is of grave concern not only for the entire IP community but also for the rest of the Filipino people. It will open the floodgates of the mining industry to foreign firms who were the strong lobbyists for the liberalization of the said industry. The bottom line of these decisions is: MONEY. The question to be answered by the IP community is “Is it reasonable for them to have the primary agency tasked for the protection of their rights transferred to the Department of land Reform in order to avail of the ill-gotten Marcos wealth?” and for the entire Filipino people “Is it acceptable to sell our birth right for the alleged billions of dollars the mining industry will generate for our economy?”. These are the questions which our people must answer categorically, and hopefully, our leaders will listen to.

To the convenors, participants, friends and supporters of the Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit: Padayon!

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