NCIP tells TV network to ‘rectify’ use of ‘exclusively indigenous term’

THE NATIONAL Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has warned a broadcasting company against using an IP term as title for a mythological television series. “The Bagani is real, not a fictional and not even a mythological group of warriors which the ABS-CBN TV series would like to portray. Bagani is an exclusively indigenous term that refers to the peace-keeping force of the Manobo Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) and other ICCs/IPs in Mindanao. The Bagani defends and protects lives, properties and territory,” the NCIP said in a statement dated March 5 and released yesterday. The commission said portraying Bagani “as merely fictional or mythological, and without reference to its historical and cultural significance, the TV fantasy show distorts, misleads and confuses rather than educate the Filipino TV viewers.” Members of the Manobo and other ICCs/ IPs have earlier expressed their disapproval on the use of the term. NCIP said ABS-CBN must “immediately rectify the injustice committed in using the word Bagani,” or the commission, together with the ICCs, would “take all necessary remedies to protect and fulfill the rights of the indigenous peoples to their cultural integrity as guaranteed by the Constitution and by law.”

Ex-Charter change commission member says federalism good for business but nixes federal-presidential proposal

A FORMER member of the Charter change (Cha-cha) commission under the Arroyo administration said federalism would be good for the business sector with government processes devolved, but disagrees with the proposed federal-presidential system. “Business don’t have to go to Manila to get permits... Only (President Rodrigo R. Duterte) openly declared that he wants to restructure government, which is very important. This is our opportunity especially for Davao,” said Lito Monico C. Lorenzana, former Cha-cha commission member and president of the Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI). However, Mr. Lorenzana said in a chance interview last Friday, March 2, that the federal-presidential system — versus a federal-parliamentary system — voted on last week by the current Consultative Committee for Cha-cha would not really change the existing political setup.”The problem is it’s the same as we have right now… we want a parliamentary federal system,” Mr. Lorenzana said, adding that the CDPI will campaign nationwide to push for the parliamentary system. —