Ambala Aeta tribal chieftain Francis Santos (wearing a yellow shirt) addresses members of the media regarding allegations that the Subic LGU dumped waste materials inside their ancestral domain in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, Subic, Zambales. Beside him are members of the Council of Elders who also denied the reports and affirmed that no illegal dumping is taking place in their community.
LEADERS of the Ambala Aeta tribe have strongly denied allegations that the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Subic dumped garbage and waste materials within their ancestral domain, saying the reports were false, misleading, and damaging to both the indigenous community and the municipality.
During a media briefing on Sunday, Ambala tribal chieftain Francis Santos said the accusations were impossible because the controversial dumpsite in Sitio Alibang, Barangay Naugsol, has already been closed for three years.
Santos explained that the area was used as a temporary disposal site in March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when strict lockdown measures restricted the movement of residents and disrupted regular waste collection operations.
He said the Subic LGU coordinated with the community to temporarily use the area as a waste disposal location as part of emergency measures during the health crisis.
“The dumpsite was only temporary and it has already been closed. There is no ongoing dumping happening in our area,” Santos said.
He clarified that the Ambala Aeta community is located about two kilometers away from the former dumpsite and that their homes and sources of livelihood were never affected by the facility.
Santos also denied claims that Aeta families were displaced or that their residential area was converted into a dumpsite.
He stressed that the former disposal site sits on a privately owned four-hectare property belonging to the Tenoria family and is separate from the area occupied by the indigenous community.
The Ambala tribe, composed of around 300 Aeta residents, has been living in Sitio Alibang for more than a century.
Santos said the community remains vigilant in protecting their ancestral domain and is aware of developments within their territory.
According to the tribal leader, after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in coordination with the Subic LGU, ordered the closure of the dumpsite, the area gradually dried up, became level ground, and no longer produced foul odors.
He said these conditions contradict claims that garbage dumping continues in the area.
Santos attributed the controversy to what he described as internal tribal disagreements, claiming that a fellow indigenous official gave statements to a television network without consulting the recognized tribal leadership and Council of Elders.
He questioned the lack of consultation and verification before the report was aired and published, saying that the allegations created a negative impression against both the Ambala community and the Subic LGU.
The tribal chief called for responsible journalism, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking, verification, and giving all concerned parties the opportunity to respond, especially on sensitive issues involving indigenous peoples and environmental concerns.
Members of the Ambala Council of Elders who attended the media briefing also rejected the allegations, affirming that no waste dumping has occurred in their community since the closure of the former dumpsite.
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