Duterte urges NCIP to hold a better IPMR selection process By Lilian C. Mellejor

By Lilian C. Mellejor

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 25 (PNA) -– Mayor Rodrigo Duterte urged the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) to come up with a better mechanism on selecting an Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) to the Sangguniang Panlungsod as he described the election of Halila Sudagar as “flawed victory”.

“I am not recognizing her. She has been there already – served as city councilor and enjoyed the benefits of a councilor,” said Duterte on Sunday over his morning television program Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa.

Duterte said the Council of Elders did not cover the voice of all the Kagans or Kalagans, a Moro tribe native to Davao region. “The Council of Elders did not represent all the Kagans of the city,” he said, adding that he is not accepting the victory of Sudagar.

Duterte, who was supporting another candidate, but lost to Sudagar, representing his own political party “Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod”, suggested that the NCIP must come up with better mechanism for the selection of the IPMR.

According to him, he has seen the selection and saw that it was not truly a representative of all Kagans in the city. The mayor stressed there are many Kagans and it was undemocratic if all are not represented during the selection.

Duterte said Sudagar is her friend but he wants others to be given a chance in governance. “Everyone should be heard there a lot of Kagans,” he emphasized.

The mayor earlier already expressed his opposition to the selection of Sudagar and warned he will turn her down for his executive concurrence because Sudagar had her time at the City Council when she was the youth representative having been elected as Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) chair in 2007.

The mayor said others must be given a chance to sit in the City Council, although he said the IPMR will still come from the Kagan tribe.

Sudagar’s election followed only after a failed selection on January 7 when Kagan leaders walked out of the venue. On January 21 election, Sudagar got 147 votes winning over other candidates.

Twenty two-year-old Sudagar defeated other aspirants: Larry Cabaguio (49 votes), Macabayao Apadan (97 votes), Lito Lapitan (50 votes), Janor Balo (two votes), and Joel Bustamante (28 votes).

From the 382 attending council of elders or Baragwa (127 from the first district, 191 second district, and 64 third district), votes cast totaled 373. The remaining attendees opted not to vote.

The NCIP had refused to comment on Duterte’s reaction.

Earlier, NCIP provincial officer Cris Ingay had clarified that elected IPMR will not rightfully assume in the City Council as she has still to comply with documentary requirements such as Denialogy-to to trace if she/he has IP blood, and basic documentation like minutes and attendance during the drafting of the guidelines. The documents will be evaluated by the NCIP provincial office, endorsed to the regional director for final recommendation, finally, the issuance of corresponding Certificate of Affirmation (COA).

“That will be her proof of authority for her to assume until she will take her oath,” Ingay said.

Prior to the announcement of winners, Sudagar expressed to contest the result if ever she will not get the position. Citing her royal lineage, Sudagar said she is more deserving for the post.

“It is customary that choosing a leader must be pure Kagan and must be a member of a royal family,” Sudagar said. Sudagar said the selection of an IPMR based on the national guidelines must focus on customary laws. She said some aspirants do not possess pure Kagan blood and not a member of a royal family. (PNA)
LILIAN C.MELLEJOR/LDP