Non-Moro IPs select representatives to Bangsamoro Parliament ahead of polls
MANILA, Philippines – The non-Moro indigenous peoples (NMIPs) have selected their representatives to the Bangsamoro Parliament: Leticio Datuwata of the Lambangian people and Jo Genna Jover of the Tedurays.
Datuwata and Jover will be the indigenous peoples’ representatives for five years until the next election in the Bangsamoro.
In the next cycle, representatives from the Manobo Dulangan and Erumanen ne Menuvu will be selected. The cycle after that will see representatives from Blaan and Higaonon.
The selection took place on Tuesday, August 25, at the Pagana Convention Hall in Cotabato City during a regional inter-tribal convention that is rooted in customary law.
Organized by the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Committee, the convention brought together delegates from the region’s six major non-Moro indigenous groups: the Teduray, Lambangian, Erumanen ne Menuvu, Dulangan Manobo, Blaan, and Limbubungan Higaonon.
This unique selection process operates under a distinct legal framework mandated by the Bangsamoro Organic Law or Republic Act No. 11054.
While other sectoral groups such as youth, women, settler communities, traditional leaders, and the Ulama are elected at-large via direct plurality vote synchronized with the general parliamentary elections, non-Moro indigenous peoples retain the exclusive right to choose their representatives through their own tribal assemblies and customary laws.
“There was clear consensus on the rotation arrangement, the NMIPs who will serve in each election cycle, and the representatives to the BARMM Parliament,” independent election observer Raymond Marvic Baguilat said on Tuesday.
Their selection comes ahead of the September 14 polls in the Bangsamoro, where people will elect their parliament that will choose the next chief minister.
“I wish to trumpet this as best practice for indigenous peoples’ self-determination processes in the future and across jurisdictions,” Baguilat said.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia was present during the event. According to Teduray leader Jennevie Cornelio, around 80 delegates attended the convention, excluding observers.
The Legal Network for Truthful Elections personally witnessed and monitored the convention as part of its observation efforts for the parliamentary elections. The group emphasized the importance of maintaining a transparent, fair, and inclusive selection process to guarantee equitable and meaningful participation for all indigenous communities across the region. – with report from Ferdinandh Cabrera/Rappler.com
