Still vacant
Codilla's disqualification as IPMR objected by tribe
THE 18th Davao City Council including members of the Bagobo Klata tribe contested the final decision of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to disqualify and refuse the issuance of Certificate of Affirmation to chosen Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Bai Cherry Ann Codilla due to lack of genealogical qualification.
NCIP Regional Director Geroncio Aguio yesterday before the 18th Davao City Council presented negative results on the revalidation for the genealogy of Cherry Ann Codilla, recently appointed IPMR of the Bagobo Klata Tribe.
Aguio said that based on their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) claimbook basis of genealogical data, they found that the Buisan name was found in Ovu Manovu while the Pandian is found in the Bagobo Tagabawa CADT.
“She has 6.25 percent Bagobo Klata blood, 6.25 percent Bagobo Tagabawa
blood, 12.5% Ovu Manovu and 75% non-IP blood,” he said, adding that failure to reach 25 percent results to the disqualification for the post according to the local guidelines of NCIP for IPMR.
He also said Codilla lacked five years of service as an active member of the tribe.
Aguio said that aside from the CADT claimbook, another round of interview was conducted with the elders of the tribe triangulating the facts stated in the claimbook.
Several councilors, including Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag asked Aguio why they have not done the validation on the genealogy beforehand prior to the declaration.
Aguio said that they based the “honesty” of the tribe member and that they did not receive genealogical record for scrutiny and support when the initial validation prior to the selection process was conducted.
Councilor Danilyo Dayanghirang asked what the implications are if the council won’t accept the decision of NCIP, Aguio said that if the council will insist on approving a seat of NCIP, they may face problems with the Commission on Audit.
Aguio said that the issuance of COA is required by law before any IPMR is seated and they have handled almost more than 1,000 IPMR appointments and each were properly dealt and validated well.
Aguio said that it is a form of balance and checking that they validate the records of an IPMR in the regional level.
Meanwhile, aside from Dayanghirang, Davao City Councilor Bonifacio Militar also asked Aguio whether or not the body will be liable on any prohibition if they will decide to approve the new IPMR.
“Oath taking of IPMR will only be done on the issuance of affirmation, if there is no COA, any oath taking is a violation,” was Aguio’s reply.
Aguio said that the council is bound by the rules, and their decision must be in line with it.
But Militar furthered that Aguio’s belief on the law is not anchored on legal matters because it is only based on his belief.
“We are anchoring our stand on the local authority given to us by law and once we decide we will go ahead,” Militar said.
As to the veracity of those tribal members who said that Codilla is not of Bagobo Klata tribe, Councilor Diosdado Mahipus asked lawyer Rolly Polotano, office-in-charge of the legal office of NCIP-11 validation, whether the statements of the tribal members they have interviewed were under oath.a
Polotano said that it was documented and with affixed signature.