Lionheart Farms Philipppines tag the four Palaw’an Indigenous People leaders that accuse them of many issues as bullies, this is their reaction regarding the four leaders press conference last Nov 30 here in Puerto Princesa which raised many issues including planting of fake Panglima or tribal leaders, and was behind the massive cutting and peeling of trees in Brgy. Ransang in the town of Rizal, south of Palawan.
In a statement sent to Palawan Daily, Lionheart President and & Co-founder Christian Eyde Moeller answered all allegations thrown at them by Dina Pascual, President of Kalipunan Y Palaw’an, Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of Brgy. Candawaga Godolito Delos Santos, Jr, Ransang IPMR Sarilon Pontas and Charlie Cudog as reaction to the video documentary posted online by Lionheart.
The said docu in title “More Or Less” uploaded a month ago in Youtube according to Moeller was properly coordinated, and they didn’t deceive them by using other identity in order to grant interviews, he said they have all the text (SMS) exchanges and call logs to prove that with Pascual.
“The interview was initially arranged by phone. Miss Dina Pascual was clearly informed this was a Lionheart initiated interview and simply because of the fact that three individuals, who were physically present during the interview, were wearing Lionheart Uniforms and ID. Further, when she was invited, she accepted it fully knowing that it came from Lionheart,” Moeller said.
He clarified that their intention in publishing the video is not to attack individual leaders or group, but more on creating awareness about environmental issues and sustainable development that needs attention. They also tried and asked Environmental Legal Assistance Center and other NGOs to be interviewed but they declined the invitation.
“The video documentary is actually not a video about Lionheart, it is a video about sustainable development, how social and environmental issues are connected; and of course about the miscommunication and manipulation of some groups. Many people have spoken out with great courage about sensitive issues, people should pay attention to this,” he said.
FAKE PANGLIMA AND BLANK CONTRACT ISSUE
Moeller strongly denied the accusations that Lionheart only created or put wrong persons to be Panglima or Tribal Chieftains in order to get government approvals for their coconut farming. He said all the IP leaders that approves them are validated by the National Commissions on Indigenous People (NCIP), and they have strongly followed by heart all mandated requirements and processes they have to pass.
“We secured all government permits, processes, and licenses through due compliance and earnest efforts. We have never facilitated fraud in anything we do. How can we fake TWO (2) FPICs? Both of which were requested by and accepted by the same persons. The community has been heard and the “opposition” consisting of these few individuals can obviously not accept the fact that they have been defeated by the voice of the people,” Moeller added.
Regarding the blank space for the lot covered to all the lot they lease in the contract with lot owners, Moeller said it was baseless because their company is in compliance with all the data and records stipulated in the contract agreement, using middleman mostly non IP to arrange the deal is also not existing in their policy, this is no truth to their allegations.
“This is absolutely libellous and incorrect. In fact, our contracts of lease have been subjected to review and scrutiny by various government agencies and thereafter have been concluded as being fair. The documents can speak for itself and these allegations cannot be further from reality and the truth,”
ILLEGAL CUTTING AND PEELING OF TREES
About the reported massive of illegal cutting trees and peeling, Moeller said that they also reported that to the authorities, and pin pointing them or their employees behind it is very malicious, the said IP leaders are the one needs to explain since some people behind it are their relatives.
“There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the DENR due to the fact that Lionheart reported the same to it. For obvious reasons we don’t comment on such as active investigation. It makes no sense that we will do the illegal activities they are trying to pin on us when time and time again, we have proven to be committed to the environment and its development. Further persons in the group making these accusations are well known to be connected to illegal logging with recent arrests involving their family members.”
LIBEL AND PEACE
Lastly, Lionheart as said by Moeller wants harmonious relationship with the Palaw’an communities, they are willing to attend any peaceful dialogues if needed in order to resolve this, but if the said attack didn’t stop they will bring the issues to the proper court.
“We have always been advocates of peaceful dialogue and harmonious relations. Over the years, we have extended numerous invitations to these individuals but we have always been ambushed into a media circus and have been spewed lies. It is time to put everything into proper place and if these libellous and slanderous acts do not stop, we will be constrained to file the appropriate civil, criminal, and administrative cases pertinent to their actions, we will not succumb to bullies,” Moeller in closing.