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.