BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative to the Baguio City council, Maximo Hilario Edwin Bugnay, Jr., would like to tell the Baguio people that ancestral land claimants can still win their cases even up to the Supreme Court.
This came after the Supreme Court upheld with finality a lower court ruling recognizing the ancestral land claim made by his father, Maximo Bugnay Sr., covering more than 77,585 square meters of land at Pinsao barangay in Baguio. Only the 11-hectare lot in the ancestral claim is being disputed.
The decision made on May 20, 2024, denied with finality, the petitioners’ motion for reconsideration dated January 24, 2024.
IPMR Bugnay Jr. said he got the decision only now from the SC when he went to inquire. He has now set the process for the demolition of the properties of the other claimants in the area.
Gabriel Diclas; Antonia Dianson; Carlos Ansis; Joseph Soypaan; Corazon Soypaan; Rita Biador; Merto Saldet; Imelda Ingosan; Myrna Basanes; Grace Solano; Marcelo Catanes; Valentino Sec-open; Dixson Anches; Carlos Anches, Jr.; and Francis Que, Jr., the other claimants, asked the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples to cancel the certificate of ancestral land title (CALT) awarded to Bugnay.
Bugnay said that the other claimants filed their petition four times.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) denied the petition on grounds the claimants failed to prove they had acquired vested rights over the land and the Second Division of the SC averred with the NCIP.
“No further pleadings or motions shall be entertained in this case,” said the notice signed by Teresita Aquino Tuazon, the division clerk of court.
“This is a landmark case. This is the first win for ancestral claimants in the city,” Bugnay said.
He said that at least 20 houses within their property will have to be demolished soon. – Rappler.com