Higaonon Tribe Indigenous People Mandatory Representative takes oath

Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong IPMR -Iligan City

By Tito Natividad Fiel

ILIGAN CITY – The Higaonon Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod has taken oath of office over the weekend to the Provincial Prosecutors Office here.

Datu Diamla Rolando So-ong, a dully certified by the National Commission on Indigenous People Region 10 Director Roberto Almonte as Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panglungsod here has taken oath of office before Prosecutor II Rashed Macarimbang.

The oath of office is one of the requirements and after which, Datu Diamla has to inform the Sanguniang Panglungsod  member of Iligan that he has to assume to his office as IP Mandatory representative and the Sangunian must formally adopt him in a form of resolution.

Datu Diamla has expected that the Sanguniang Panglungsod will accept him in due time since it is already a law and should not be ignored.

Datu Diamla takes oath for IPMR-Iligan City

According to City Councilor Manny Salibay chairman of the Committee on Indigenous People in the Sanguniang Panglusod on Friday that no one can oppose this because this is already a law.

“Mandatory Representation should not be denied because it is not contradictory to the Local Government Code of 1991 known as Republic Act 7160 as perceived by other councilor because the Indigenous People Rights Act clearly said in the repealing clause that any law contradicts to it is hereby repealed”, Councilor Salibay explained.

In September 15, 2014, Region 10 Director of the NCIP dully affirmed and certified the election of Datu Diamla as IP Mandatory Representative.

In the same date, the said Regional Director signed a letter addressed to Mayor Celso Regencia and Vice Mayor Ruderick Marzo informing them that Datu Diamla is qualified to assume the said position.

Since then, this has not yet been set as one of the agenda in the course of the regular session of the Sanguniang Panglungsod here.