Tribal groups in the Philippines marked the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on today with protest actions calling for an end to human rights violations, land grabbing and environmental destruction.

Members of indigenous communities marched to Manila to stage rallies near the Malacanang presidential palace and at the Supreme Court to petition for a Writ of Kalikasan (environment), or a stop to destructive mining.

“We were on the exact same spot as we were a year ago,” said Piya Macliing Malayao of Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines (KAMP), speaking at a rally on historic Mendiola Bridge.

“This time last year, we offered up to Malacanang the Indigenous Peoples’ Agenda – a list of just demands to the newly elected president. But none were given attention. Instead, we found ourselves in worse situations,” said Malayao, a Bontoc-Igorot from the Mountain province.