New NCIP chief warns corrupt officials, IPMRs

BY Rocky Ngalob

QUEZON CITY -- Newly installed National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Executive Director Mervyn Espadero committed to act on all reports of corruption done by NCIP officials or employees.
    Espadero said this as he welcomed Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives [IPMR] during the national IPMR summit here last week.
    He told IPMRs not to do corruption corrupt practices and police those in government who are doing illicit activities at the expense of Indigenous Cultural Communities / Indigenous Peoples [ICCs/IPs].
    The challenge of Espadero came timely this time when some of IPMRs and NCIP officials are accused of corruption or illicit acts against  ICCs/IPs either direct or indirect.
    He said IPMRs will be accorded with anonymity should they report corrupt practices done by NCIP personnel or public officials.
    Being members of the local legislative units, some IPMRs are not immune to controversy.
They may either failed to act on some of the plights of the ICCs/IPs or they themselves served as accomplices or channels for corruption, he said.

Either way, according to Espadero, direct or not, both are equally frowned upon by laws and most importantly by IP customary values.

As an IPMR, according to Espadero, they are expected to be imbued with wisdom honed by the centuries-old values emanating from the ICCs/IPs customs.

It is given that they evolve from a lifestyle of conscious assertion and practice of traditional values and beliefs, he said.

“They are walking repositories of the ICCs/IPs’ rich history. In effect, they know what is best and what is adverse for their respective communities. It is paramount for an IPMR to consciously promote collectivity and participatory decision making over covert and selective undertakings.”

Absent any of these qualities, Espadero added, IPMRs will most likely succumb to corruption. Thus, it is vital for our IPMRs that while they work inside the chambers and halls of their respective “Sanggunians,” they must not divorce themselves from their IP communities.

“They must continuously remind themselves that their position, as an IPMR, is a mere privilege granted by IPRA which may only be executed if IP communities manifest to assert the same.”

Espadero said IPMRs owe their position to IP communities and it is only prudent to return back the favor through good and honest service. 

Espadero added an IPMR who wittingly subscribes or tolerates corruption against the IPs, are doing sacrilege to their IP identity.” Their participation and/or condonation to corruption will be their unbecoming not only as an IPMR but as an IP as well.  I urge you IPMRs to avoid corrupt practices so that you can truly serve the people.”

He told IPMRs the Office of the Executive Director is always open for all IPMRs who want to report on corrupt practices within their Ancestral Domains [ADs].