However, one must ask if the passage of BIPA would lead to the full recognition that indeed Non-Moro Indigenous People’s exists as a distinct identity and their collective Rights to Ancestral Domains and Lands, Right to Self-Governance and Empowerment, Right to Social Justice and Human Rights, and Right to Cultural Integrity?

Praises and promises on the enacted law to ensure recognition, empowerment and rights of the Non-Moro IPs have been released by personalities in power and agencies concerned particularly the Interim Chief Minister Murad Ibrahim, Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr., Bangsamoro Transition Authority Minister Ramon Piang, BTA Member Froilyn Tenorio – Mendoza, Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Melanio Ulama and the NCIP Commissioner Jennifer Pia Sibug-Las.

Does the law satisfy the concrete clamors and proposals from the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples in the region and have democratically included them in the crafting process towards the passage? Does the distinct identity of the IPs subsume to the identity of the Bangsamoro?

IP Code is supposed to be one of the seven priority laws that the BARMM Transition Authority must passed since the first day of office in 2019. But, instead of passing the law, a resolution number 38 was imposed to stop the delineation process of the Ancestral Domain of the Teduray and Lambangian application. The first time that IP Code was discussed was during the call for extension of the term of the BTA and the second time was this time with another call for extension of the BTA and towards the first BARMM regional election.

It is public knowledge that despite the passage of these landmark laws like the Republic Act 8371 or Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 and the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) explicitly citing IPRA and the Philippine Constitution and international instrument like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People’s (UNDRIP,) Non-Moro IPs in the region continue to become victims of violence and intimidation such as the forcible occupation of their ancestral lands, threats, non-compliance of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and targeted killing of their community leaders (as of this writing 86 leaders of the IPs have been murdered).

Meanwhile, another celebrated milestone on February 10, 2025 was the signing of the memorandum of agreement between the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA) aimed at promoting the rights and socio-economic welfare of indigenous peoples (IPs) and non-Moro IPs (NMIPs) living in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). Does this mean that the Non-Moto IP be also used for counter-insurgency as what happened to the NCIP as co-chair of the NTF-ELCAC?

In the signed MOA, the NCIP will share information and technical assistance in support of the MIPA in the crafting of policies, programs and regulations for IPs in the region. The parties also agreed to develop specific activities and deliverables to be implemented in the spirit of cooperation and common commitment to protect and promote the rights and well-being of the Indigenous Cultural Communities in the BARMM that includes the finalization of the delineation of the Ancestral Domains or “Fusaka Inged” as well as empowerment and enhancement of the Indigenous Political Structures (IPS) and Indigenous People’s Organizations (IPOs). Does this include the Indigenous practice of their economy (Sulagad) or mainstreaming to the neoliberal globalization.

Without further delay, BAA 64 and signed MOA must ensure and speed up the delineation of the Ancestral Domains of the NMIPs especially the Teduray, Lambangian Ancestral Domain Claim (TLADC); ensure a BAA 64 IRR that is compliance with the IPRA, BOL, Philippine Constitution and international instruments; ensure to address the massive destruction and threats of further destruction of the forests and natural resources within the TLADC and the region; and must end all the atrocities caused against the NMIP communities and members.

BAA 64 and all mechanisms to be installed must ensure that the roles of the to-be installed Fusaka Ingëd Development Office (FIDO) shall not overlap with the Indigenous Political Structures’ and all interventions, programs and projects including the peace process’ implementation inside the TLADC must be reviewed under the FPIC process.

As we plant justice, we harvest peace.

March 18, 2024

Signed,

1. Alyansa ng mga Mamamayan para sa Karapatang Pantao (AMKP)
2. Kilusang Maralita sa Kanayunan (KILOS KA)
3. Lanao Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (LAHRA)
4. Alliance of the Tri-People for the Advancement of Human Rights (ALTAHR)
5. Interfaith Movement for Peace (IMovePeace)
6. Lambangian People’s Organization
7. Teduray and Lambangian Youth and Students Association
8. TLAMABANG
9. Indian Social Action Forum, India
10. Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF)
11. Partido Manggagawa
12. Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

For inquiries:

amkpsecretariat gmail.com
altahr2015 gmail.com
lahra.inc89 gmail.com
kilusangmaralitarural gmail.com

References:

Bangsamoro Parliament OKs Indigenous Peoples’ Act of 2024
https://mb.com.ph/2024/12/12/bangsamoro-parliament-o-ks-indigenous-peoples-act-of-2024

Non-Moro IP in Bangsamoro demands issuance of CADT, stop to killings
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2033113/non-moro-ip-in-bangsamoro-demands-issuance-of-cadt-stop-to-killings

Grand kanduli offered for passage of Bangsamoro Indigenous People’s Act
https://mindanews.com/top-stories/2025/02/grand-kanduli-offered-for-passage-of-bangsamoro-indigenous-peoples-act/#gsc.tab=0

NCIP, MIPA SIGN HISTORIC ACCORD FOR BARMM IPs, NON-MORO IPs
https://www.congress.gov.ph/media/view/?content=5788&title=NCIP%2C+MIPA+SIGN+HISTORIC+ACCORD+FOR+BARMM+IPs%2C+NON-MORO+IPs

MOA inked to help protect IP rights
https://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php/articles/1244314

OPAPRU commits to strengthen collaboration with NCIP and MIPA to uplift and protect rights of IP communities in the Bangsamoro
https://peace.gov.ph/2025/01/opapru-commits-to-strengthen-collaboration-with-ncip-and-mipa-to-uplift-and-protect-rights-of-ip-communities-in-the-bangsamoro/

IP group hopes processing of ancestral domain title finally moves forward
https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/13/ip-group-hopes-processing-of-ancestral-domain-title-finally-moves-forward

Bangsamoro Parliament approves IP law
https://parliament.bangsamoro.gov.ph/2024/12/10/bangsamoro-parliament-approves-ip-law/