This developed after Board Member Orly Amit during the SP session on Monday (Feb. 13) called to oust Macla as the provincial IPMR over his failure to submit his Certificate of Affirmation (COA) from the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) that would affirm him as the mandatory representative or ex-officio member of SP.
COA is a certificate issued by the concerned Regional Director (RD) or the Provincial Officer of NCIP as the case may be, to a selected IPMR who has complied with all the requirements enumerated under the NCIP law.
According to Jubahib the selection of the IPMR is a crucial process that should be based on merit and adherence to the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) law.
“It is unfortunate that the appointment of Datu Macla has been subjected to political maneuverings. This appointment should be based on his qualifications and service to the indigenous community, which are essential in fulfilling the IPMR's critical role in representing the tribe's interests,” Jubahib said in a statement.
Jubahib emphasized that SP should respect the selection process of the Provincial Tribal Council and the Indigenous Peoples' mandatory representation process.
“Let us not play politics with the appointment of the IPMR, which is essential in upholding the rights of our indigenous peoples and promoting unity and progress in our tribe. We call on everyone to support the selection of Datu Macla as the Provincial IPMR and to respect the established process,” he said.
The selection of the IPMR should be free from any political influence, and it is crucial to uphold the integrity and legitimacy of the IPMR’s role in representing the tribe's interests, Jubahib pointed out.
The governor issued a warning that he would not hesitate to use the law against NCIP 11 should they refuse to issue, without merit and legal basis, a COA to allow him to sit as IPMR of the Davao del Norte Provincial Council.
The governor learned that a politically-motivated petition was filed by Macla’s opponent in the person of Datu Francisco Bucadon from Braulio E. Dujali questioning Macla’s selection by the indigenous cultural community and indigenous peoples of Davao del Norte.
Meanwhile, tribal leaders from various local government units in the province strongly denounced Wednesday (Feb. 15) what they described as an “anti-Macla” mindset prevailing in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan under the helm of Davao del Norte Vice-Governor De Carlo Uy.
Aside from Amit, Board Members Shirley Belen Aala and Emmanuel Pamisaran—all of whom are political allies of Uy made similar ouster calls by questioning Macla’s legitimacy as the provincial IPMR.
Amit, Aala, and Pamisaran took turns at the podium in the plenary to question Macla being the PIPRMR. There was even an attempt that Macla’s name be removed from the journal of proceedings, and other official documents from the SP, a move heavily opposed and criticized by Board Member Nickel Suaybagiuo.
Supporters and sympathizers from different tribes called them the “Macla 5” referring to Uy, Aala, Amit, and Pamisaran as Macla’s staunch critics and opposition.
Tribal leaders rushed to the defense of Macla against calls by Uy, Aala, Amit, and Pamisaran to oust him as the provincial IPMR as such call did not sit well with them, branding such move as “bastardization” of their IP rights.
Bae Pilar Libayao, Talaingod Municipal Executive Chieftain, described as “unfortunate” that some provincial Board Members under Uy’s leadership do not respect the voice of our indigenous people and seek to exploit them for their own gain.
“Nganung ingun anaon man nila si Macla, nga para man sa katawhan iyahang ge trabaho diria sa kabukiran hilabi na si Kuya Gob Jubahib, dili gyud mosugot ang katawhan kay nakita gyud nila ang agi ni Gob ug ni Macla. Ang kalaban ni Macla gani didto ra sila sa barangay kutob, dili ko gusto, mao nang wala nila ge respito ang tingog sa mga IP, kay gusto man nila bayran ang tao….wala ko magdawat kay dili man nako gusto nga ako makakwarta pero akung mga tao nagkalisod,” Libayao said.
Datu Gilbert Aling, the Provincial IP Youth Federation President, condemned the actions of Board members Aala, Amit, and Pamisaran for their utter disregard of their decision about the appointment of Macla as the PIPMR.
“Kani si Board member Aala, Board member Amit, Board member Pamisaran, nga grabi inyong pagyatak-yatak sa among katungod, wala ninyo ge respito ang among desisyon, ge butang na namo si Board Member Macla ge desisyonan sa tribu nga mao siya ang ibutang sa hawanan, kay nakita namo ang iyang kamaayo nganung wala ninyo gerespito. Ayaw ninyo ipita, kay siya among nakita nga maka tabang sa among tribu, lisod kaayo sa akung part kay nganu kami ang sumosunod, kani among masundan dako kaayo ni nga discriminasyon isip tribu, naa na sa balaod, nga walay oh si kinsa pwede maka hilabot og pwede mo babag sa among desisyon,” Aling said.
Tagum City Tribal Chieftain Datu Simproso Gomez, Jr. also said: “Dapat ang Sangguniang Panlalawigan i-respito nila og unsa ang desisyon sa PTC, kay kami man ang mga leader, kay kami man ang nakahibalo kung kinsa ang karapatdapat og walay lain dapat mo sulti sa amoa, kung kinsa amoa ibutang. Unsaon nga amoang dughan og kasing-kasing diha man gyud kay Board Areil Macla og nauyonan man gyud sa kadaghanan, dapat irespeto na, amoang ipadangat ni o bisan asa ta magabot, special law gani ni gibuhat sa gobyerno arun maprotektahan ang katawhan tribu, unya karun dili nila irecognize, ang kadtung balaora ang ilahang gilapas.”
Datu Arturo Davao, the Provincial Tribal Council Chieftain, urged the tribal community to follow the proper process outlined in the IPRA law in selecting the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) of the tribe.
He said any issues or concerns within the tribe should be brought to the attention of the Provincial Tribal Council (PTC) rather than going directly to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), where the tribe may not have any representation.
“Sa pagpili sa amoamg mahimong IPMR pinaagi sa pag proseso subay sa IPRA law, kung pananglitan naay problema sa tribu dapat ge balik nila sa PTC, dili kay adtu sa SP nga wala paman silay labot, ang among gina apas diha maka lingkod si Datu Macla sapagka IPMR, nadamay ta sa pamulitika, ang akung mensahi kay Vice Governor Uy kung pwede ayaw sa mog apil-apil balik sa amoa sa PTC, sa Provincial Tribal Council kami man mag hisgot og diha me magka sinabot kay manukad man sa tribu nga problema dri ta sa IPRA law, og panawagan pud nako sa Regional Director nga sir, kung pwede dili ta mag apil-apil sa ilaha, dili ta magpa hikot,” Davao said.
Other tribal leaders, namely: Datu Andigao Agay, Talaingod Municipal Tribal Chieftain, New Corella Municipal IPMR Datu Delfin Omos, Bae Gemma Rarangol of Kapalong Municipal IPMR, Bae Merlinda Aranar of Panabo City Tribal Chieftain made a similar call to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to honor Macla and respect the decision of the Provincial Tribal Council (PTC).
NCIP 11 director Mumar Mamukid in an interview with News Fort hopes that a resolution of this matter will be released within the month and will issue COA as long as it is resolved already.
“Naa man gud siya’y petition, kung wala unta mo-isyu dayon ta ug COA. So samtang naay petisyon atua sa ning i-resolved,” he said.
He said NCIP has given 30 days to resolve the case.
“Whatever the decision of the NCIP regional level, both parties have the authority to appeal to the chairman’s office for final and executory,” Mamukid said.
Datu Bucadon insisted in his petition that Macla’s selection is no longer valid as he was not already a member of the tribal council after his three terms ended.
“Basi sa policy sa NCIP, kinahanglan ang regional director mag-create og fact finding committee who will tackle the issue. The committee shall give recommendation sa regional director,” Mamukid said.
“Hulaton lang nato nga ma-resolved, dili lang unta nato dali-dalion para walay samok, kay kabahin man kini sa proseso,” he said.
The three fact-finding committee is composed of the NCIP regional legal officer Lawyer Nestor Batinggana, IPMR regional focal person Ariel Padaya, and Attorney Ronnie Bolotano, NCIP Davao City provincial officer.
Governor Edwin Jubahib