Higaonon group files plaint against barangay chairman

By LITO RULONA,
Correspondent

AT LEAST 300 members and officers of San Simon BagocbocMalanang Unified Higaonon Tribal Council – Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) filed a formal complaint against Barangay San Simon chairman RodulfoNacario for allegedly appointment a tribal leader in their area illegally.

In a two-page petition-complaint filed before the Office of the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) regional director Atty. Pinky Grace Pabelic; NCIP-Misamis Oriental Provincial Office provincial director Mr. Jason Vincent Damasco; the local indigenous organization chief Bae Dayan Dayan Vivian TawakalBaroza claimed that Nacario violated the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act.

Baroza also filed the same petition-complaint before the Department of Interior and Local Government city director Jane Docallos to intervene.

She said they will not honor the alleged illegal appointment made by Nacario to a certain Tribal Chieftain name TeofiloTawakal last Oct. 15 in Barangay San Simon Barangay Hall in the city.

“NCIP-Misamis Oriental Provincial Office has already validate and appoint IP Mandatory Representative last Nov. 13, 2013 didtosa Barangay San Simon,” she added.

Baroza said Damasco issued the validation report on the IP Mandatory Representation.

“No less than formeregional director Roberto Almonte has also issued certificate of affirmation awarded to Datu Rolando Bahian as the IP Mandatory Representative and regular member of the Sangguniang Barangay of Brgy. San Simon in accordance to Section 16, Republic Act No. 8371 and pursuant to Section 6, Paragraph 1, Rule IV of Implementing Rules and Regulations, NCIP administrative Order No. 001, series of 2009, for mandatory representation,” she added.

Almonte on his certification affirms that Bahian has passed and complied with the selection and election process requirements during the meeting of the Higaonon Tribal Council and Elders at Barangay San Simon in the presence of NCIP authorized representative, tribal chieftain Eduardo Baroza was elected in accordance with the customary laws and practices of their tribe.

He said the office has sufficient proof to confirm the certification is valid.

Yesterday, Baroza filed a formal complaint before the Bulua Police Station after Nacario along with Barangay Kagawad Fernando Edrolin and Barangay Secretary Geneva Babatido refused to received the copy of the tribal council petition when they went to San Simon Barangay Hall to witness the NCIP validation and to prove the copy of their petition.

For his part, Nacario said they refused to accept the copy of the petition.

Nacario, for his part, said they refused to accept the copy of the petition since their office is under the purview of DILG and will “only receive whatever instructions or memor that may be issued by the DILG that may pertain to the problem that your group may forward to the City DILG director.”