Mabalacat Vice Mayor Christian Halili has asked the state-owned Clark Development Corp. (CDC) to stop harassing Aeta tribesmen affected by a sanitary disposal project in Calumpang village.
The vice mayor revealed he has received reports that security guards hired by CDC are harassing Aetas living in Calumpang and nearby areas, making their daily lives difficult.
Halili said tribal leaders have approached him to complain about the arrogant CDC guards who are restricting the movements of the Aetas, who claim the area as their ancestral land.
“Their daily ways of life are affected because of the alleged harsh treatment of CDC guards,” Halili was quoted as saying by Sunstar.
The alleged conflict between the CDC security officers and the Aetas stemmed from the US $2-million sewerage handling and sanitary disposal project in Calumpang, Mabalacat town.
The project is being implemented jointly by LC Soliman Septic Tank Incorporated and a Korean firm, TesuPhils Incorporated.
While approved by the tribal leaders, CDC has stopped the construction as the proponents have no approval yet from the government-owned corporation.
“Hindi naman natin pinakikialaman ‘yung kaso nila. Ang hinihiling lang natin ay igalang ang karapatan ng ating mga kababayan,” Halili said.
