His Excellency, President Simeon Benigno C. Aquino III.
Re: Appeal for the Recognition, Protection and Promotion of the Indigenous Peoples’ Inherent, Inalienable and Collective Rights and Identities in the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro-CAB and the Bangsamoro Basic Law-BBL Pursuant to the Provisions of the 1987 Constitution and its Enabling Law, the Republic Act 8371 Better Known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 or IPRA.
Tinahud Namong Presidente sa Atong Nasud,
The Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation-LMPF expresses its appreciation to Your Excellency for supporting the Bangsamoro collective rights for the sake of lasting peace in Mindanao. But we also appeal to Your Excellency to please guarantee that the Bangsamoro Basic Law shall recognize, protect and promote the identities and the rights of the Indigenous Peoples anchored on the 1987 Constitution and its enabling law, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, or RA 8371.
LMPF, the organization of the un-Islamized Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao, collectively adopted the ascription as Katawhang Lumad or Indigenous Peoples. LMPF pioneered in the assertion of the Indigenous Peoples rights way back in 1984 when it convened the historic “Land Congress” in Cebu City that paved the lobbying for the inclusion of the Indigenous Peoples rights in the National Charter, the 1987 Constitution and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997. Similarly, LMPF was also vigorously participated in the sessions of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Population-UNWGIP drafting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Philippine and the Malaysian Governments were among the 144 states/nations voted in favor of the UNDRIP.
This means that for decades now, Lumad Mindanaw has been a strong and consistent stakeholder in our people’s search for peace. We hereto attached copies of our letters to the GPH Panel expressing our consistent and earnest appeal to consider the rights of the indigenous peoples in the Bangsamoro peace talks.
If possible, we humbly wish to meet with you personally so we can express more fully our message of peace with dignity and justice.
Again, we convey to you our collective appreciation for Your Excellency’s efforts for peace in Mindanao and the entire country.
Kindly allow us to assure Your Excellency of our highest considerations.
Yours very respectfully,
Lumad Mindanaw Governing Council
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