A leader of a supposed bogus tribal group was arrested on Thursday in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, the Philippine National Police – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.
“Datu Adlaw has been arrested. The documentation is still ongoing),” CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said.
A CIDG report said Jorgeto Corpuz Santisas alias “Datu Adlaw” claimed ancestral land rights to justify padlocking establishments that failed to pay fees to the Federal Tribal Government of the Philippines (FTGP). The group also reportedly demanded financial contributions from its members.
The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) clarified that FTGP is not recognized as an indigenous peoples’ organization. This highlights the risk posed by unregistered groups misusing indigenous rights to engage in coercive and potentially illegal activities.