Masungi management disputes fencing claims, says IP-complainant a quarry worker

FILE PHOTO: The government assures the public that it will do its best to protect and preserve the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal province as it firms up plans to develop idle properties within the area. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — The Masungi Georeserve Foundation, the private contractor tasked to care for the protected area in Rizal province, has disputed claims that it has placed fences in areas where indigenous people (IP) are residing.

In addition, the foundation’s management on Friday claimed that one of the supposed tribe member-complainants assisted by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) used to work for a recently closed quarry in Masungi and the Upper Marikina Watershed.

“The Masungi Georeserve Foundation is not aware of any fencing activity being made by our team inside the Tanay CADT (Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title),” Masungi Georeserve Foundation said in an e-mail message to INQUIRER.net.

“Rogelio Doroteo who is being quoted by this article is known to be an employee of the recently canceled quarries in Masungi and the Upper Marikina Watershed who claim to retain vested interests in the area,” the foundation added.

Masungi’s management was reacting to a story published where NCIP sought the help of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) in Calabarzon to help members of the Dumagat-Remontado tribe complaining about the fences allegedly built over their supposed ancestral land in Tanay, Rizal.

NCIP sought the PAO’s help based on the advice of PAO chief Persida Acosta.

Doroteo was one of the supposed Dumagat-Remontado tribe members quoted in the story.  According to him, they have tried to adjust to what the Masungi’s management has been doing in the area, but lately, the activities have already obstructed their livelihood.

Doroteo claimed that things got heated when a supposed Masungi personnel reprimanded him for staying in the area and bringing his livestock there — as he insisted that the land is theirs.

READ: IPs from Tanay, Rizal seek PAO help over Masungi fencing issue 

But the foundation insists that Doroteo does not go home to the place he claims, noting that the area he goes to is a quarry station.

“In fact, he does not go home to this place he claims to be his and resides elsewhere. Instead,  the area has security guard/s and is known to us as a station of the quarry,” the foundation claimed.

In a Facebook post on Friday, NCIP’s regional office in Calabarzon said that they have already sought PAO’s assistance regarding the indigenous people (IP) complaints from Tanay’s Barangay Cuyambay.

Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. is the private contractor assigned to take care of the 400-hectare georeserve in Rizal, which is considered a protected area.  Last September, the foundation called on to the government to protect forest rangers who are in danger due to harassment from several land claimants.

This was after a group seeking to occupy Masungi was found armed with several firearms, which local police soon seized.

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JPV/abc