Alimaong official disowns "members"

CEBU, Philippines - The vice chairman for the cultural affairs of the supreme council of the Datus Alimaong tribe has disowned some people who appeared last Jan. 12 at the city council session to claim to be members of his organization.

Robert Palma, who is known as Datu Dimantag, has denied they are members of the Indigenous group.

In his letter to Suico, Palma said Vicente Gonzales alias "Datu Bontito Leon Kilat" said was once a member of the tribe but has long been discharged for committing several violations.

He commended Suico for not recognizing Gonzales and his group.

He told Suico that the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) order 05-03-01 series of 2001"the suspension of the accreditation of People's organizations and Non government organizations" is still in effect.

He said that Gonzales and his group are not authorized to act in behalf of the Supreme Council of Datus Alimaong which is an accredited organization. He said it is unlawful for the group to represent similar organizations which do not have accreditation from the NCIP.

Palma said that only IPs and NGOs with accreditation from the NCIP can avail of benefits and enjoy rights as mandated under R.A. 8371 or otherwise known as the "Indigenous People's Rights of Acts of 1997."

In his privilege speech, Mandaue City council majority floor leader Diosdado Suico criticized the alleged members of the Alimaong who were present at the session yesterday.

Suico said he was saddened by the false accusations of the alleged members of the group made in the newspapers for his failure to acknowledge their representation in the city council .

The group earlier endorsed Dr. Milagros Cañete and Emedio Roble as their IP representatives in the council.

Also endorsed was Milagros' son, Dr. Paulus Canete, the beleaguered president of the old Mandaue City College as the IP representative to the Mayor's Office.

Last Wednesday, council members discussed everything in the agenda except the council's acknowledgement for Cañete as representative to the council.

Cañete said she could not understand why the council did not acknowledge her when in fact she is not a threat to anybody, especially to Suico, who she had earlier heard that he wouldn't recognized her.

Suico said he is only a member of the city council and only the vice mayor or presiding officer has the right to recognize and acknowledge members, guests, and visitors.

Suico maintained that he will only adhere to the provision of Ordinance No. 12-2010-557 which comprises the city council's internal rules and procedures as well as the provisions of local government code of 1991 or Republic Act 7160, which lists the authorized council representatives.

"In closing, Mr. chairman and to my colleagues, to keep the trust and confidence of the electorate, which has given us the fresh mandate to serve, let us not by all means, be remiss of our sworn duties to be deceived and allowed misrepresentations, much more to give chance to impostors to invade this legislative body," Suico said.

A certain Rajah Lapu-Lapu, whose real name is Ibrahim Lapu-lapu who attended yesterday's session, said that he will call the attention of Palma and let him answer for maligning them before the city council.

Lapu-lapu said they are the real descendants of Lapu-Lapu as they live in Cebu while Palma's tribal council is based in Cagayan de Oro City.

While Winnie Catane alias Datu Mahogany confirmed that they did not seek accreditation from the NCIP for fear that they will lose their self dominance.

Earlier, some members of the indigenous tribe "Alimaong "went to the Mayor's Office to see Mayor Jonas Cortes to insist that they be represented by Paulus Mariae Cañete and his mother Mila Cañete at the city government.

They insisted that they should have a representation in the city government based on the memorandum circular no. 2010-119 dated October 20, 2010 taken from the DILG's Section 16 of Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous People's Right Act of 1997.

They cited Section 16, which states that Indigenous Cultural Communities /IPS have the right to participate fully at all matters of decision making, in matters which may affect their rights, lives, and destinies through procedures determined by them.

They said all three, as provided by the state, will receive the same compensation, benefits, and other forms of payment which the representatives receive for doing their work, with those of the regular members of the concerned legislative bodies as prescribed in the R.A 7160 and other applicable laws. (FREEMAN)