Historical Injustice Ignites Conflict in Mindanao

By Tito Natividad Fiel

Madeline Shelling of New Zealand talked Councilor Angay

ILIGAN CITY – The historical injustice has ignited conflict in Mindanao that this generation inherits, City Councilor Ariel Anghay told over the weekend in an interview with foreign researcher Madeline Shelling from New Zealand at the Boy Scout Office,  Uni-top Building here. 

Councilor Anghay said it could not be denied that the first people here in Mindanao especially in Iligan was the Indigenous people, when Islam came, some members of the tribe were converted and practiced their new faith. 

“Converted Tribe and those remained their faith felt that the land of their forefathers were grabbed and held by the people most of these Christians where having position in the

                                                                                           government”, Anghay explained.

Kag. Anghay replied the queries of foreign researcher

Because of these it is easy on the part of few Indigenous People to join the armed struggle of different groups fighting for justice, Anghay claimed. 

The people now need peace, but still under process  where in need cooperation of all walks of life for the government to success of doing a such but maintained in joining his colleague in the council opposing the inclusion of few areas in Iligan City in the Bangsa Moro Governance. 

In 2008, Iligan City was strongly protesting the Memorandum of Agreement on  Ancestral Domain between the Philippine Government and the MILF and the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the said agreement as unconstitutional,  and fighting escalates all over the island. 

SP COMMITTEE ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ACCEPTS IP MANDATORY REPRESENTTIVE TO THE SANGUNIANG PANGLUNGSOD AND ENACT ORDINANCE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS

By Tito Natividad Fiel

Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong in the IP Committee hearing

ILIGAN CITY – Office of the President through the Commission on Filipino Language urged Wednesday the City Council here to allow the Higaonon Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of this city to assume its post as soon as possible. Dr. Lorna Flores, Commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language told the Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod here in a committee hearing Wednesday afternoon that, the selection process has been done and duly certified by the National Commission on Indigenous People Regional Director. “What should be discussed now is when the chosen Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City assume its post as ex-officio member of the said body not the process and legality because the agency concerned on this matter has already certified the authenticity of the process”, Commissioner Flores asserted. Ms. Flores is also a Higaonon by tribe which a retired professor of the Mindanao State

Datu Sumilao of Rogongon supports Datu So-ong

University –Iligan Institute of Technology which become a commissioner of the Commission on Filipino Language under the Office of the President. Department of Interior and Local Government of ILigan City Director Emilio Rana affirmed the statement of Commissioner Flores that this law of Mandatory Representation under the Republic Act 8371 or Indigenous Peoples Rights Act should be implemented. Lawyer Foster N. Anayron, DILG Region 10 legal officer has corroborated the opinion and statements from the office of the President. Datu Arturo Cunto, Tribal Chieftain of Barangay Rogongon, this city asked the committee when their Indigenous People Mandatory Representative Datu Diamla Rolando So-ong be allowed to assume his post as ex-officio member of the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City. City Councilor Emanuel Salibay, Chairman of the Committee on Indigenous People of the city council here said, if he only one to decide he would allow the IP mandatory representative to assume his post immediately, but it needs to convince his fellow councilors to get the majority. “This public hearing aims to determine the authenticity of the documents being presented by the chosen Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod Datu Diamla Rolando So-ong to iron out the possible loopholes but supportive to the cause of Higaonon Tribes”, Councilor Salibay stressed. But at the end of the hearing, the Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod accepted the IP Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of ILigan and will enact ordinance for appropriation. In a follow up interview when the hearing was adjourned, Committee chair Councilor Salibay said that he would submit report next week session of the Sanguniang Panglungsod and push for the approval of their resolution that will allow the said IP representative to assume his post immediately. Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong, an IP Mandatory Representative has lauded the action of the Committee on Indigenous People that accepting the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungosd and will enact ordinance to appropriate budget for said office. He said the challenge now is in the hands of the Sanguniang Panglungsod to adopt the resolution of the Committee on Indigenous People headed by City Councilor Emanuel Salibay and allow him to assume his post immediately. In Section 22, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “the state recognizes and promotes the rights of the Indigenous Cultural Communities within the framework of national unity and development”. The Republic Act 8371 known as the Indigenous Peoples Right Act of 1987 explicitly provides that the Indigenous Cultural Communities have the right to participate if they chose in all levels of decision-making in matters

City Councilor Salibay left and Region 10 DILG legal officer right

which may affect their rights, lives and destinations. It mandates that the state shall ensure that the Indigenous People shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making bodies and other legislative councils. The Indigenous People Higaonon of Iligan City chose Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong on July 17, 2013 as their Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City with the presence of the authorized representative from the National Commission on Indigenous People. On September 15, 2014, National Commission on Indigenous People Region 10 Director Roberto L. Almonte duly certified the said process and let the Chief Executive and the members of the legislative body know by sending notices. On January 21, 21015, Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong took oath

Jason Damasco NCIP LDN-PO spoke in support to Datu Diamla

to the authorized administering officer through Lanao Del Norte Prosecutor II Rashid Macarimbang. On January 22, he filed a formal information to the Secretary of the Sanguniang Panglungsod that the IP Mandatory Representative is to assume his post as ex-officio member of the Sanguniang Panglungsod and in January 27, the Sanguniang Panglungsod debated for adoption which finally given back to the Committee on Indigenous People for determination of the authenticity of the documents being presented. On Wednesday, the Committee on Indigenous People found out the genuine and authenticity of the documents being presented by the Higaonon IP Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod and accepted him and will enact ordinance for appropriations.

The Committee on Indigenous People of the Sanguniang Panglungsod this city composed of Hon. Manuel "Manny" Salibay, chair; Hon. Marlene Young, Vice-Chair; Hon. Ariel Anghay, Hon. Michelle Echaves Sweet and Hon. Samuel "Tatay" Huertas members.

HEADLINES

MISAMIS ORIENTAL TOWN CELEBRATES 66TH YEAR FOUNDATION

NEW LANAO DEL NORTE NCIP P.O. UNCOVERS DEFECTIVE DRAFT MOA

 HIGAONON TRIBE TROOPS TO ILIGAN CITY COUNCIL

HIGAONON IP MAN REP IN ILIGAN TAKES OATH

MIS. OCC TOWN LADY EXEC VOWS TO MAINTAIN GRAVELING ALL INTERIOR ROADS

MISAMIS ORIENTAL TOWN CELEBRTES 66TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Beauties in Manticao paraded for 66th year foundation

MANTICAO, Misamis Oriental – The Municipal Government here has celebrated its 66^th year anniversary from its foundation as Municipality which highlighted over the weekend the different activities drawn some spectators from adjacent places and provinces including international visitors. 

Beauty Pageant, fair trade, cultural street dancing and other activities have colored the celebration where forging unity among the people. 

Mayor Roberto “Boby’ Lagrosas here has lauded the participation and cooperation of the different barangays led by their respective Barangay Officials that making the celebration success. 

“One of the key for our success is we are united different departments and barangays cooperated each other and made their counterpart to success the different activities and the development envisioned by the Municipal Government of Manticao”, Lagrosas shared.

Higaonon Tribe's Culture highlighted in the 66th year celebration

The peace and orders situation over the place is predictable except the few sighted of emergence of illegal drugs, but saying it is manageable and recently the Municipal Police cornered pushers that led to wipe out the illegal drugs distribution in the place, he stressed. 

Manticao was founded as Municipality in February 7, 1949, with 13 Barangays and having population of 26,786 as of the year 2010 and recently has celebrated its 66^th year anniversary of its foundation.  

NEW LANAO DEL NORTE NCIP PROVINCIAL OFFICER UNCOVERS DEFFECTIVE DRAFT AGREEMEMENT BETWEEN THE ROGONGON TRIBAL COUNCIL AND MASADA MINING

ILIGAN CITY – New Lanao del Norte Provincial Officer of the National Commission on Indigenous People Jason Damasco has unearthed the defective draft Memorandum of Agreement between the Tribal Council of Rogongon and the Masada Resources and Mining Corporation.

NCIP -LDN Provincial Officer faces Tribal Leaders

The draft agreement is defective in form and substance where its first party is reversed from the correct form which suppose to be the first party is the community, the second party is the company and the third party is the National Commission on Indigenous People, Mr. Damasco said over the weekend.

“The content is not clear whether it is for exploration or operation, as a whole it is a scratch draft and be overhauled”, Mr. Damasco stressed.

Mr. Damasco was a provincial officer of NCIP in Misamis Oriental and assumed the same position in Lanao Del Norte in early January this year after the reshuffling of NCIP staff made all over region 10.

The draft agreement was reportedly prepared by one of previous staff of the NCIP in Lanao Del Norte, then submitted to the Regional Office, but lately sent back to the Provincial Office for verification. 

When the new provincial officer examined it, it ruled that the draft agreement was defective in form and upon verification from the tribal leaders it found out that even the substance is also defective in nature. 

Few years ago, some applications for mining in the Ancestral Domain of Higaonon Tribe in Barangay Rogongon were become dormant and the Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), a Government Owned Corporation took over the said mining tenements. 

Later said mining tenements were auctioned by the PMDC to interested investors for mining and Masada was one of the bidders who won the bidding for the mining tenements in Barangay Rogongon this city.

Headlines

 Higaonon Tribes troop to Iligan City Council

 Iligan City IP Man Rep takes oath

Mis. Occ Town Lady Exec insures interior municipal roads passable

Higaonon Tribes attended Iligan City Council Session

Higaonon Tribe troops to the Iligan City Council to get seat for IP Mandatory Representative

By Tito Natividad Fiel

Higaonon Tribe troops to Iligan City Council

ILIGAN CITY – The Higaonon Tribe from the Bayug Ancestral Domain through its Council of Elders trooped Tuesday to the City Council here during its regular session to get seat for the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative.

About twenty leaders comprising of seven communities men and women attended the session Tuesday to listen the positioning and arguments of the City council member whether in favor or against the assertion of the Higaonon Tribe to get seat in the council

In a letter sent to the council and read during session penned by Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong, an Indigenous People Mandatory Representative said that he is informing the City Council that the Tribe elected him as mandatory representative to the SP in a selection process under customary laws and traditional practices.

“The undersigned respectfully, humbly and formally informed this august body that I am dully affirmed as Indigenous People (IP) Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod of Iligan City”, the letter said.

The letter said that such is in accordance with the section 16 of the Republic Act No. 8371 known as Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) and pursuant to Section 6, Paragraph 1, Rule IV of Implementing Rules and Regulation, NCIP Administrative Order No. 001, Series of 2009 for mandatory representation.

Datu Diamla in his letter said that he complied with the selection/election process and requirements during the General Assembly of the Higaonon Tribal Councils and Leaders on July 17, 2013 at Iglupas Building here.

NCIP authorized representative was present during the process and the leaders through the customary laws and traditional practices elected him as Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod.

Datu Diamla informed the SP about his assumption to office by virtue of the second paragraph of Letter E. Selection and Assumption to Office (Section 12, Title II, NCIP AO No. 001 S., 2009) under Memorandum Circular No. 2010-119 of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) dated October 20, 2010 dully signed by late Secretary Jesse M. Robredo.

“Assumption to office shall take place as soon as the selection process is formally certified by the concerned NCIP Regional Director, upon recommendation of the Provincial or Community Service Center Head, as the case may be, in accordance with the Administrative Order No. 001, S., 2009, and the person chosen takes the appropriate oath before an authorized officer and inform the appropriate body of his or her assumption”, DILG Memorandum Circular said.

In compliance with the above-stated provision, Datu Diamla also took oath before the authorized officer to administer oath through RASHID A. MACARIMBANG, Prosecutor II of the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor in the Province of Lanao del Norte in Iligan City dated January 21, 2015, Datu Diamla’s letter narrated.

He prayed in his letter to the Sanguniang Panglungsod Members to adopt and accept his assumption to office as IP Mandatory Representative.

In response to his prayer after long deliberation, the body resolved to turn it back to the Committee on Indigenous People, conduct necessary processes and hearing as a matter of protocol under their internal house rules and submit committee report for final adoption.