PAGADIAN
CITY: The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) has ordered the
local government to restore Timuay Rio Olimpio Lingating as the Indigenous
Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) in the City Council of this city,
latest information gathered by Mindanao Pilgrim said.
NCIP
Legal Officer Maribel Tamayo said a letter was sent by NCIP Reg. Dir. Timuay
Woy Lim Wong dated Oct. 24 and signed by NCIP Chairperson Atty. Oralder Quitayo
containing the said order.
To
recall, Lingating, who assumed office in March 2013, was ousted on July of the
same year through a majority vote of the councilors.
The
City Council citing the reason that the 10th and 11th City Council failed to
legislate a law creating the Office of the IP representative as Ex-Officio
member with corresponding budget allocation for salary and operation of the
office.
It
also added that the recognition of Lingating as IP representative did not pass
through proper decorum, his endorsement was not properly done due to the
absence of the supporting documents and thus his recognition was defeated by a
majority vote.
Quitayo’s
letter, however said the excuses given by the City Council “can never be the
basis to remove Lingating, whose appointment is mandated by a law.”
The
same letter cited the law and subsequent guidelines as well as a DILG opinion which
states that the IPMR cannot be subjected to the majority vote or any voting
process of the City Council.
Earlier,
a PNA report said “that there was manipulation that resulted to the removal of
Lingating as IPMR” and that such exploitation “came from the Barangay Affairs Office
(BAO) under the office of City Mayor who mediated to withdraw their support to
Lingating as IPMR.”
The
NCIP office said they look forward to a harmonious patching up of the issue, giving
due regard to the general interest of the IPs of this city who will be deprived
of representation if Lingating suspension comes to pass.
The
copy of the reinstatement order was sent to Mayor Romeo Pulmones through Vice
Mayor Divina Grace Yu, as its presiding officer.