ILOILO – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6 has rejected accusations from anti-dam groups linking the agency to alleged human rights violations in the construction of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog town, branding the claims as “baseless” and “not anchored on facts.”
The Jalaur River for the People’s Movement (JRPM) and Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas staged a protest on Aug. 26, alleging that the multibillion-peso project threatens the displacement of Tumandok (indigenous people) communities, destruction of ancestral lands, and erasure of cultural heritage.
They also tied NIA to the 2020 “Tumandok massacre,” where nine were killed and 16 arrested in a police operation.
“Today, join us as we drumbeat our calls: Stop the construction of the Jalaur Mega Dam! Justice for the Tumandok Massacre victims,” Katribu said in a public statement, demanding accountability from NIA, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, the police, and the military.
But NIA-6 spokesperson Steve Cordero insisted the concerns have long been resolved and repeatedly dismissed in legal proceedings.
“They’re trying to insist ang ining mga ‘human rights violations’. These things are baseless and not anchored on facts,” he said in an interview.
On the December 2020 killings, Cordero clarified that NIA had no role in the police-led operation.
“We were also surprised because this was not coordinated with us, and we don’t have direct involvement diri,” he stressed, adding that those who died were not even residents of Calinog, where the dam is being built.
Cordero also pointed out that NIA had secured two Certificates of Precondition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples after a two-year Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process involving 16 barangays.
“These certificates proved that we went through the process as mandated by law,” he said.
He further criticized the groups for refusing NIA’s invitations to dialogue.
“We opened our doors for them, but they keep on refusing our invitation… instead nag-rally sila sa gwa sang opisina,” Cordero said.
NIA noted that earlier cases brought before the Supreme Court regarding environmental and human rights concerns had been dismissed for lack of merit.
“That’s why we believe nga diri sa Pilipinas wala na sila nag-file sang case, didto naman sila sa South Korea,” Cordero added, referring to complaints reportedly elevated to Korean institutions funding the project./PN