By NITZ ARANCON Correspondent WHETHER or not former Gingoog councilor Alan Mandokita would be allowed to sit as the representative of Misamis Oriental’s indigenes to the provincial board would depend on the opinion of the capitol’s legal chief. Misamis Oriental Vice Gov. Jose Mari Pelaez said this even as he pointed out that the provincial board has yet to pass a measure that would recognize Mandokita as one of its members. Mandokita took his oath as indigenous people’s representative to the provincial board before Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano in late April. But earlier that month, the provincial board “abolished” the office of the indigenous people’s representative along with other positions in the Misamis Oriental legislature. Pelaez said he was unaware of the Mandokita’s oathtaking. He said, “I have no idea.” Pelaez said not once did the provincial board discuss Mandokita’s supposed oathtaking before Emano as IP representative. He however confirmed that the National Commission on  Indigenous  Peoples (NCIP) sent the provincial board an endorsement for Mandokita. Pelaez said the documents sent by the NCIP were forwarded to provincial legal officer Cecil Paelnar for a legal opinion. “Nangayo pa kami sa dugang pagto-on gikan sa Provincial Legal Office aron dunay among dugang basihan sa paghimog ordinance alang sa  representation ni  chieftain Mandokita sa Sanguniang Panlalawigan,” said Pelaez, adding that Paelnar has yet to make a legal opinion. He said the present or the next provincial board could act on the matter of IP representation. “Bisan sa sunod set-up na sa Sanguniang Panlalawigan ma-finalize namo ang ordinance nga gikinahanglan sa IP representative kay hapit na man  molingkod ang new set of provincial board members,” Pelaez said. Provincial board member Benedict Lagbas earlier said the capitol was duty-bound to allow the IPs in Misamis Oriental to be represented in the provincial board based on a national law. He said the local legislature cannot abolish the position.