The Court of Appeals' Ruling

In its Decision^[23] dated May 29, 2015, the Court of Appeals affirmed. It focused on the failure of the accused to present any license agreement, lease, or permit authorizing them to log the dita tree. It also faulted the accused for relying on IPRA as the source of their alleged rights to cultural heritage and ancestral domain and lands. For they purportedly failed to substantiate their claim that they are Iraya-Mangyan IPs and the land where the dita tree was situated is part of their ancestral domain and lands.

Under Resolution^[24] dated April 11, 2016, the Court of Appeals denied the accused' motion for reconsideration.