BAYOG, Zamboanga del Sur,
20 Dec (PIA) – The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
Regional Office 9 conducted a Tribal Leaders’ Forum with the aim to iron out
conflicts on Ancestral Domain issues on
Tuesday, December 17, 2013.
Sangguniang Bayan Member
Celso A. Matias who represented Mayor Leonardo L. Babasa, Jr. in his welcome
message expressed his gratitude to the NCIP for holding the said forum. “Through
this forum, peace and unity will be attained among the tribal leaders,” he
said.
It can be recalled that
during a Peace Forum held last June 28, 2012, a map indicating the ancestral
domain claims of the tribal group was presented by the four tribal leaders,
namely: Timuays Casiano Edal, Ramon Lumige, Lucenio Manda, and Joel Lumpinas.
During the forum, it was
learned that there are two conflicting groups who applied for ancestral domain
claims led by Timuay Casiano Edal and Timuay
Luciano Manda.
NCIP Commissioner for
Northern and Western Mindanao Cosme Lambayon and NCIP-9 Regional Director
Salong Sunggod strongly recommended to end their divisibility and to have one
common goal to attain peace and progress. They also suggested there should be
one representative to stand for the group who will also serve as the liaison.
Regrettably, one of the
two conflicting leaders did not agree on the recommendation, but it was later resolved by assigning the two leaders to represent their group.
Also present during the
forum were: Mercilyn Hatad, Officer In-Charge, NCIP Zamboanga del Sur
Provincial Office, Dr. Robert Barcela, OIC-NCIP District Office based in
Guipos, Vicky Cajandag, PDSI Executive Director, Atty. Fausto Lingating, NCIP
Legal Consultant, Celso Matias, SM Member, LGU-Bayog, Lt.Col. Victor
Tanggawohn, Commanding Officer, 53rd IB, Philippine Army, some
barangay chairmen and NCIP employees. (ALT/BAG/CAL/PIA9)