Traditional Subanon Timuoy (chieftan) Jose Boy Anoy receives the Certificate for his Ancestral Domain.
Photo: Cathal Doyle.
and to formulate FPIC guidelines that they considered to be culturally appropriate, consistent with
their customary law and sensitive to their indigenous worldview and beliefs. The Subanen leaders,
including Subanen women leaders, involved in the consultation process represented different
communities and provinces from all over the Zamboanga peninsula. The result of this broad-based
community consultation process was a manifesto expressing the aspirations of the Subanen people
for an acceptable consent process before the introduction of development projects in the ancestral
domains.116
The Manifesto declared their views on the importance of their land and natural resources. It
called for respect for indigenous values through asking permission, and acquiring consent, before
doing anything involving the people, their property and the unseen spirits. The document called
for the adoption of guidelines to regulate the entry of large-scale development programs in the
Zamboanga peninsula. Among the conditions for the conduct of FPIC were: the submission of a
list of names of indigenous leaders duly recognized by their respective communities; participation
of all affected communities in the FPIC process; respect for traditional territories and boundaries;
respect for traditional leadership and decision-making processes; performance of traditional sacred
rituals; written agreements with terms and conditions; respect for decisions to reject projects and the
absence of military and police forces in the community.117
Philippine government response
Instead of recognizing the Subanen Manifesto as a Subanen defined FPIC process, the NCIP
Chairman instructed its Regional Office to uphold and adhere to the FPIC Guidelines of 2006.118
While the NCIP acknowledged that customary law had primacy in the ancestral domain, it held
Making Free, Prior and Informed Consent a Reality
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