We, the representatives of the Erumanen ne Menuvu communities from the six municipalities in the Province of Cotabato, namely, Pigcawayan, Libungan, Midsayap, Aleosan, Alamada and Carmen, express our firm and united stand on the issue of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity advanced by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Peace Panels;  

We acknowledge that we as brothers of the Muslims of Mindanao are not against their struggle which is represented by Moro Islamic Liberation Front to uphold their right to self-determination by engaging in a negotiated political settlement with GRP; 

We recognize that we are seriously affected by the issue of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain and the proposed Bangsamoro Juridical Entity because it raises confusion on the fate of ancestral territories of the Lumad peoples of Mindanao;

We understand that the term “Bangsamoro” stipulated in the Memorandum of Agreement on ancestral domain includes the Lumad people and their freedom of choice will be respected; 

Taking the interests and voices of the Erumanen ne Menuvu, we stand as people who seek for meaningful and effective recognition, respect and promotion of our inherent rights as distinct people different from the Bangsamoro. Thus, in adherence to these views, we strongly declare that:

1. We do not adopt the term “Bangsamoro” as our identity because even before it was adopted by Moro brothers, we already are natives with identity rooted to our lands and territories.

2. We the Lumad people were already in existence even before Islam was introduced which separated the blood brothers – APU MAMALU AND APU TABUNAWEY- and they agreed in the peace pact called D’YANDI;

3. The MOA does not meaningfully stipulate any statements that advance the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (R.A. 8371) and United Nation Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which we adhere to correct historical injustices of the indigenous peoples;

4. The Lumad peoples’ concept of ancestral domain is far different from the one stated in the Memorandum of Agreement on the ancestral domain ; the Indigenous Peoples strongly believe that our land is material base of our culture -  that ancestral domains includes not only the seen but also the unseen being  including the respects of deities,  spirits  and sacred sites; this point is contrast to what is reflected in the provision of MOA which is more of socio-economic based and resource-driven interest;

5. We  have close spiritual link  with nature which is not also made clear in the MOA;

6. Lastly, we view that the Memorandum of Agreement on ancestral domain is vague and not responsive to the interest and well-being of the Lumad people;

Based on the aforementioned premises, we join the chorus of appeal of the majority of the Lumad peoples of Mindanao, to:  

1. Uphold the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (R.A. 8371) which has the spirit and intent to correct historical injustices of the Indigenous People and was achieved through a very long but peaceful and diplomatic struggle.

2. Identify, delineate and exclude our ancestral lands and territories from the so called  Bangsamoro homeland by recognizing , revitalizing and reinforcing the traditional boundaries known to us as “Pegeleten ”  and “Lantong” which our ancestors and our generation today continue to preserved and respected.

3. Put every detail of the MOA in proper context taking into account their indispensable rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao to their Ancestral Domain;

4. Call the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to fast track the delineation and identification of ancestral land/domain of the Indigenous Peoples irregardless of contents and provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain;

We call for the cessation of armed hostilities which directly inflict harms to the Indigenous peoples into their ancestral territories instead;  

We also appeal to the GRP and MILF peace panels to resume the peace talks behind the negotiating tables;  

Lastly, we petition that any decision or action to be made should be passed through free and meaningful consultations with the Lumad people who are, in one way or the other, affected by this issue.  

We affix our signatures as symbol of our oneness in making this stand this 18^th day of August 2008 at Midsayap, Cotabato.