Cimatu denies hand in coffee plantation

The group also claimed that the IFMA had expired in 2016 but was renewed by the DENR without the consent of the indigenous people. #DawangCoffeePlantation #Tamasco

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered the speedy investigation of the illegal operation of a coffee plantation in an ancestral land as Secretary Roy Cimatu denied an indigenous people’s group’s charges he was behind the anomaly.

The T’boli-Manobo S’daf Claimants Organization (TAMASCO) filed a lawsuit against Cimatu for neglect of duty last 15 November for allegedly violating the Indigenous People Rights Act by failing to secure their consent before any activity can be done on their domain.

TAMASCO said the secretary should have shuttered the Dawang Coffee Plantation for encroaching on the lands of the T’boli and Manobo tribes in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

The groups also appealed to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to have the DENR cancel the Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA) which allowed the M&S Company, which owns the coffee plantation, to function in their territory.

Cimatu argued that the activity happened before his term as DENR secretary and that he ordered the legal team to investigate on the IFMA issue upon his assumption to office.

“I fully disagree with the accusation of the group because this activity happened before my time,” Cimatu said.

The group also claimed that the IFMA had expired in 2016 but was renewed by the DENR without the consent of the indigenous people, but Cimatu emphasized that he never approved any IFMA and assured that the indigenous people’s welfare will be given the utmost priority.

“If ever I need to approve, I will ensure that our indigenous people’s welfare will be given the utmost priority,” he said.