Cordillera solons press autonomy; Pimentel: Possible in federal gov’t

Tribal elders want ‘genuine’ setup

By Carlito Dar and Aldwin Quitasol

BAGUIO CITY – Cordillera congressmen and other lawmakers have decided to continue to pursuit for regional autonomy rather than the proposed federalism in which the Cordillera Administrative Region will join Regions 1 and 2 as federal state.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. bared this saying along with other Cordillera lawmakers, they are for regional autonomy to emphasize that Cordillerans want to stand alone as a region, whether as an autonomous region within a federal state or as a federal state.

This, as federalism advocate and former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said Cordillera can be an autonomous region within a federal state or even become a separate state under a federal form of government.

Pimentel bared  this during recent first North Luzon Federal Forum here at Teachers Camp. 

The activity was in support to President Duterte’s push for transition of current form of government into federal. 

Pimentel said it is possible for a sizable sector of the country to exist within a federal state such as the autonomous region of Bangsamoro or lumads and other indigenous peoples’ group.

In the case of Cordillera, it can be an autonomous region within a federal state.

The Cordillera can also become a federal state because they have been fighting for it for a long time.

It has been an aspiration of Cordillera for so long to assert its control of its area and respect for its culture and tradition, Pimentel said.

IP culture and tradition are protected and respected under the federal state.  Indigenous systems should be recognized, he said.

He said when they made the Local Government Code (LGC), IPs were not included because lawmakers were focused on problems of Muslims.

“When we adapt a federal state, we must include the IPs’ protection as well as of their ancestral domain’, said Pimentel, the father of the LGC.

He cited need to clearly define IP cultures and traditions that need  to be protected and respected as well as how  these should be respected  in  making laws  for a federal state.

In La Trinidad, Benguet, Cordillera leaders and elders from different tribes and indigenous communities of the Cordillera Region convened here Aug. 29 to reaffirm their role in continuity of indigenous socio-political system (ISPS) of Cordillera indigenous peoples and struggle for genuine autonomy amidst thrust of the administration to federalism.

In a workshop led by the Cordillera Elders Alliance (CEA), the IP elders stood by their participation in the defense of IP communities against destruction from the entrance of destructive projects such as mines, dams accompanied by intense militarization.

According to Cordillera Peoples Alliance Advisory Council member Benedict Solang, elders played a very important role in the establishment of unity among  Cordillera peoples agreeing they are national minorities and IPs together with non- IPs in the upholding of self-determination and attainment of the real aspiration for an autonomy fit for Cordillerans.

Solang said that through the guidance of the elders, the history of the flourishing of the Cordillera people's struggles for existence with the practice of the ISPS manifested through cultural practices such as bodong (Cordillera peace pact), dap-ay or ator (center or a traditional meeting place of the council of elders),  and tongtong (community dialogue).

They shared their insights and knowledge in the Cordillera peoples campaign for a regionalization and beyond in the 80's where they pushed for the establishment of a Cordillera region.

During their campaign then, the six provinces of Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Ifugao and Mountain Province belong to regions 1 and 2.

Such campaign led to attainment of  the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) through the executive order of then President  Corazon Aquino in 1987.

In the same year, elders with Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) started the campaign for a regional autonomy (RA) for the Cordillera and Mindanao and lobby for the inclusion of RA in the Philippine Constitution.