CAPAS, Tarlac — Thousands of Aeta residents marched to the Colonel Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) in Capas, Tarlac on Tuesday, July 14, to press the government to recognize their ancestral land rights, coinciding with the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 79th founding anniversary celebration.
The protesters gathered at the Barangay O’Donnell Covered Court before marching to the military facility in Barangay Sta. Juliana, where they called on the PAF and other government agencies to respect their right to their ancestral domain and uphold their right to self-determination.
The demonstrators carried placards bearing messages such as, “Barangay na kami bago pa man ang RA 7227 at PP 163,” “Mga traktor na pangsaka, huwag po sanang pagbawalang pumasok,” at “Proyektong imprastraktura, huwag itayo mula sa pangangamkam,” underscoring their opposition to what they described as continuing encroachment on their communities.
Protest organizers alleged that members of the indigenous community continue to experience intimidation and efforts to drive them away from their villages to make way for government and private development projects. They also claimed that these projects are being pursued without meaningful consultation and without obtaining the communities’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), a requirement under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.
Among the issues raised during the protest was the alleged conversion of agricultural and productive lands for the expansion of military reservations and the development of New Clark City.
The protesters maintained that their ancestors had lived in Capas long before the enactment of Republic Act No. 7227, which created the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, and before the issuance of Proclamation No. 163 in 1993. They said historical place names in the municipality continue to reflect the long-standing presence of Aeta communities in the area.
Organizers further claimed that about 1,600 hectares of the 9,450-hectare New Clark City have been earmarked for the proposed Pax Silica data center project, which they fear could further affect their ancestral lands.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Air Force and other concerned government agencies had yet to issue official statements on the allegations and demands raised by the protesters.
The protest unfolded peacefully while the PAF continued its anniversary activities inside CERAB. Authorities are expected to release statements as discussions on the issues raised by the indigenous communities continue.