La Trinidad IPMR rep hits election of new one

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- A petition was filed by incumbent La Trinidad indigenous peoples mandatory representative (IMPR) Marcelo Abella questioning selection of newly elected IPMR Pendon Thompson.

               Abella said there seemed to be irregularities and obvious bias with the selection of the newly elected IPMR.

Abella wrote National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Cordillera regional director Roland Calde: “As incumbent IPMR of La Trinidad, I was never consulted nor invited in pre-activity meetings which were all designed to favor one aspiring candidate, Pendon Thompson, to the exclusion of others. Other original IP elders/ leaders were likewise not invited. These were all allegedly done in connivance with some NCIP personnel.”

He added, “All the activities including the alleged approval of the local guidelines and selection of IPMR was undertaken by the questionable La Trinidad Indigenous Peoples Organization (LTIPO) and barangay officials and not by the ICCs/ IPs as per IPRA and the National Guidelines or NCIP AO No. 001 Series of 2009,” Abella said.

Abella added the activity was not coordinated with him as the IPMR of La Trinidad.

“The process and the local guidelines discarded the existing guidelines and entirely came up with a new guideline and there are questions in the new guidelines of which I indicated in my letter to regional director,” Abella said.

Sources however claimed the selection process on August 11 was done in accordance to the NCIP and the valley’s guideline unanimously approved and ratified by 2/3 of the majority of Barangay Council of Elders present in the assembly held July 26, 2017. NCIP Provincial Officer Nora Ramos advised all stakeholders to resolve all issues before submitting and endorsing the final documents for the newly selected IPMR of La Trinidad while the NCIP has yet to issue the Certificate of Affirmation.

              During the August 11 selection, there were 112 who attended including representatives from the NCIP who facilitated the process.