An irate Gina Lopez, managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc., on Thursday dismissed as a “nuisance suit” the case filed by an indigenous tribe questioning her environmentalist group’s move to cut 25 trees and establish a tourism resort in a sacred forest ground in Palawan province, allegedly without a government permit.
In a series of phone calls and text messages from Canada, where she is participating in the annual gathering of her politically influential clan, Lopez said the project in Sabsaban Falls had the full backing of the mayor of Brooke’s Point, its municipal council, captains of two barangays and 183 indigenous people (IP) affected in the area.
Lopez claimed that she had consulted with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) before pushing her plans to develop the ecotourism site and was told that she need not get its approval.
The Brooke’s Point Federation of Tribal Councils (BPFTC) has filed with the NCIP a case against Lopez and 20 other individuals for invading their sacred tribal grounds on March 25 without first securing a free prior and informed consent and certificate of precondition from the NCIP.
P2.3M for damages
The IP group is demanding P2.3 million in damages and litigation fees from the foundation, which is also under investigation for allegedly cutting 25 trees in the area.
“That’s a nuisance suit. I have an MOA (memorandum of agreement). All the proceeds go to the people. I have letters and documents. I went to the regional heads of the NCIP. They told me that if the project is for the IP, then we don’t need an approval. That’s why we got the resolution,” Lopez said.
“I have worked in Puerto Princesa, Quezon City, Manila, Makati City and and in so many other cities. I go to the mayor. If the mayor says OK, then it’s OK. Just go. I am not in business. I just want to help them. That law and requirement was set up to protect the IP,” she said.
Not against development
Bert Palaan of the BPFTC said his people were not against development but they wanted ABS-CBN to go through the same approval process required of mining firms in the development of ancestral lands.
Lopez said the foundation had already pumped in P2.5 million into the community while the local government unit (LGU) shouldered expenses for water and electricity.
“One hundred percent of the profit goes to the community. The purpose of ABS-CBN in being there is to prove that lives can be uplifted through care of the environment,” she said.
She was adamant that her people did not cut any tree in the area.
Dead, dying trees
“The dead and dying trees that were cut were identified by the Cenro (community environment and natural resources officer),” she said, referring to an office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“The LGU people themselves cut the trees in coordination with the DENR official there,” Lopez said.
“I question the motives of the ‘indigenous group’ that wants to stop a project that is right now benefiting 100 families. I question the motives of a group that did not do anything when there was garbage and broken bottles, and drinking in the area. And now that the place is clean and indigenous culture is being explained to all, we are violating the ‘sacredness’? How about the sacredness that will be violated when holes are dug, endangering the river and agricultural lands nearby?”
Black propaganda
Based on her group’s investigation, Lopez said Lebach Mining Corp. was behind the “black propaganda” against her ecotourism project.
“It is the mining company that wants to mine that area near the river. If my project is successful in eradicating poverty, it will be very difficult for them to mine if so many people’s livelihood will be affected. That’s why there is this intense campaign that wants to stop the project. They have already spent millions exploring,” she said.
In December last year, the municipal council of Brooke’s Point endorsed Lebach Mining. This was quickly opposed by the Ancestral Land Domain Watch Network, the ABS-CBN Foundation’s partner in the resort project, as it was allegedly approved without legal documents from the NCIP.
“Shouldn’t the press be applauding and encouraging efforts that help the needy and protect the environment rather than pandering to those with questionable motives?” Lopez asked. “If they are real IP, they should be happy that we are there.”