THE CITY’S Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) raised the alarm over the illegal sale of ancestral land in Marilog District. Datu Pagdatua Demetrio B. Bolo Sr., the IPMR for Davao City, said the practice, compounded by cases of double-selling, has fueled boundary conflicts that turned to violence. Bolo stressed that tribal communities do have the right to recover ancestral land, but only for valid reasons, such as when land has been left idle or abandoned by its holder. “Some migrant settlers maintain that they had legitimately purchased the land, even where pertinent documents were lacking,” Bolo said. Bolo called for an information campaign to raise awareness among tribal communities and migrant settlers alike on ancestral domain rules.