Celebrate the Cordillera People’s Courage! Resist the Attacks against the Indigenous Peoples!
- Panaghiusa Philippine Network
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
On the historic celebration of the 41st People's Cordillera Day on April 24, 2025, the Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples' Rights stands in solidarity with the Cordillera peoples and all Indigenous communities in their courageous struggle for land, life, and resources.
This year's theme, "Assert our Rights! Persist in the Struggle for Self-Determination! Advance the Politics of Change!,” affirms the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA)’s analysis submitted to the former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Cali Tzay, last 2024. It also reflects the unwavering determination of the Indigenous Peoples to defend their ancestral lands, uphold their rights to self-determination, and resist oppression.
In July 2024, over 80 representatives from different Indigenous communities and organizations gathered for the National Academic Forum. The CPA emphasized that the Upper Tabuk Hydropower Project and Consultant and the cascade of four hydros on the Saltan River and its tributary highlight several issues, including violations of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, exclusion of affected Indigenous Peoples in the process, and incomplete information regarding the projects, among others. Moreover, former UN Special Rapporteur Tzay also visited Indigenous communities near the Chico Dam in Kalinga.
Several months after the forum with former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples Francisco Cali Tzay and UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights member Pichamon Yeophantong, the CPA also reported the operations of Makilala Mining Company, Inc. in Pasil and Tinglayan, Kalinga, which threaten major river systems vital to Indigenous farmers and communities.
Amid the plunder of ancestral lands, human rights violations, including red-tagging, terrorist designation, and abduction against the Indigenous Peoples and activists from the Cordillera persist.
The Anti-Terrorism Council arbitrarily designated Cordillera Peoples Alliance leaders Windel Bolinget, Sarah Abellon-Alikes, Jennifer Awingan-Taggaoa, and Stephen Tauli as terrorists. This baseless designation has led to the freezing of their assets and subjected them to further harassment and threats. Such actions are blatant violations of their constitutional rights and an attempt to silence their advocacy for Indigenous Peoples' rights to self-determination and ancestral lands.
Furthermore, individuals claiming to be from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police abducted Bontok-Ibaloi-Kankanaey Dexter Capuyan and Indigenous Peoples’ rights defender Bazoo De Jesus last April 28, 2023 in Taytay, Rizal. Their enforced disappearance highlights the increasing attacks against Indigenous leaders and activists.
The people's resistance against these human rights violations and destructive projects in Indigenous communities has been met with repression, yet the Indigenous Peoples from the Cordillera continue to assert, persist, and advance their rights to ancestral lands and self-determination.
The Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights reaffirms its commitment to calling for the end of criminalization and human rights violations against the Indigenous Peoples and plunder of ancestral lands. We call on the government to uphold Indigenous rights, halt destructive projects in Indigenous communities, and stop red-tagging, terrorist designation, and other human rights violations.
As we commemorate the legacy of Macli-ing Dulag and all Cordillera martyrs and heroes, we vow to amplify the voices of the Indigenous Peoples, call for accountability over human rights violations in Indigenous communities, strengthen our unity, and advance the struggle for justice and dignity. #
Reference:
Rikki Mae Gono
National Coordinator
Panaghiusa Philippine Network to Uphold Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
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