They spoke about an alleged illegal dumpsite within ancestral lands.
An indigenous rights advocate has raised concerns after reports that several Ayta residents who appeared in Kara David’s newest I-Witness documentary were allegedly summoned by local officials in Subic, Zambales following the program’s broadcast.
The July 11 documentary, “Ibinasurang Paraiso,” examined an alleged illegal dumpsite in Sitio Tibag, Naugsol, an area within Ayta ancestral lands. Residents interviewed in the report spoke about the site’s alleged impact on the environment, nearby bodies of water, and their community.
On Facebook, indigenous rights advocate Evangeline Rodriguez questioned the alleged summons: “Kung ang impormasyong ito ay totoo, mariin naming itinatanong: Ano ang layunin ng pagpapatawag? May nagawa bang mali ang mga katutubo sa pagsasalita ng katotohanan?
Rodriguez said Ayta residents have the right to speak about issues affecting their health, environment, livelihood, and ancestral lands, adding, “Ang kanilang tinig ay hindi dapat patahimikin, takutin, o pigilan.”
She also stressed that freedom of expression is protected under the Philippine Constitution, while the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act recognizes the rights of indigenous communities to defend their culture, ancestral domains, and other rights.
“Ang pagsasalita sa isang lehitimong mamamahayag at pagbabahagi ng katotohanan sa isang dokumentaryo ay hindi paglabag sa batas,” Rodriguez said, adding that telling the truth in a democratic society should never become grounds for intimidation or harassment.
She argued that if any investigation should take place, it should focus on the allegations surrounding the dumpsite and its reported environmental impact, rather than on the indigenous residents who spoke about their experiences.
“Kung may dapat man imbestigahan,” she said, “hindi ang mga katutubong naglakas-loob magsalita, kundi ang mga pangyayaring naging dahilan kung bakit may mga reklamo ukol sa ilegal na dumpsite at sa pinsalang idinulot nito sa kalikasan at sa pamayanang katutubo.”
As of writing, the Subic local government has yet to publicly address the allegation that the residents had been summoned.
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