NCIP rights gab held for Benguet IP elders/elders

SONS OF CORDILLERA PAYING IT FORWARD TO THEIR ELDERS/LEADERS: National Commission on Indigenous Peoples – Benguet Provincial Office [NCIP-Benguet] led by Acting Provincial Officer and Ibaloy native of Benguet, Myra A. Kalang-ad [second from left] awards Certificate of Appreciation to Commission on Human Rights [CHR] Special Investigators and both members of the Kankana-ey IP group, Anthony Laking [first from left] and Karl Mico Alangui [fourth from left] for their invaluable contributions as lecturers during the Information and Education Campaign [EIC] on Human Rights for the IP Elders/Leaders of Benguet.  Photo by: Seighfred Chanfing

By Rocky Ngalob

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet -- Indigenous peoples elders/leaders (ELs) from 15 ancestral domains in the province attended a forum by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples provincial office to inform indigenous peoples ELs on human rights and related laws.

    This was part of NCIPs services to indigenous cultural communities / indigenous peoples [ICCs/IPs].
    Doing away from the usual training on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act [IPRA], the activity intended to equip ELs additional skills and knowledge vital in their daily routine and functions within their respective ancestral domains [ADs].
    The event hoped to introduce new skills to ELs on investigation, documentation and reporting of human rights violations within their IP territories.
    Elders/leaders are known traditionally as walking repositories of indigenous knowledge, systems and practices [IKSP]. They hold with them moral obligation to man the frontline matters concerning ancestral domains particularly conflict resolution and resource management.
    Most often, the IP elders/leaders sit at the opposing side of the negotiation table in front of corporations having Free and Prior Informed Consent [FPIC] processes.
    They involve participation of the IP community in most decisions they dispose. ELs play a very vital role in the selection processes of their Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives [IPMRs], Indigenous Peoples Organization [IPOs] and documentation and due validation of their ancestral domains sustainable development protection plans [ADSDPPs] and indigenous political structures [IPS]. 
    Despite this set-up coupled with the rigors of prevailing policies, intended to ward-off unwarranted manipulations and interference, the Ancestral Domains are not immune to human rights violations.         

    Coincidentally, as IPs themselves and sons of the Cordilleras special investigators from the Commission on Human Rights [CHR] Karl Mico Alangui and Anthony Laking devoted time to capacitate the ELs of Benguet.

    “While we recognize that our IP ELs, guided with their values of collectivity and wisdom on customary dispute resolutions, are the best investigators, mediators and adjudicators of ancestral domains, it cannot be overlooked that they need to be armed with the necessary technical skills such as writing or documentation,” said Alangui.   

    According to Laking, the request from NCIP-Benguet the activity of NCIP-Benguet came timely. “As of the moment, there are a lot of incidents involving human rights inside the territories of the IPs mostly coming from outside Benguet province. Sadly, only few gets recorded and filed. If lucky, these few may proceed to investigation while the rest, because lacking the necessary records and/or documentation, were simply left to die a natural death. Given this situation, human rights violators roam freely and unchecked. In effect, leaving the victims to pay the price of having to endure the blunt of the human rights violations,”Laking said.     

    “Our customary ways of oral tradition must evolve. By equipping the IP ELs the much-needed technical skills, they will be able to perform their moral and customary responsibilities in-tuned with the needed paper requirements in this day and age,” Alangui said. 

    Alangui reminded the ELs, especially those who are currently seated as IPMRs, that they too, like any other government officials who took oath, are duty-bearers in upholding human rights.

    Alangui added they are liable and accountable to the rights-holders within their respective ancestral domains particularly the ICCs/IPs. “Attached to your positions as IPMRs, are the responsibilities and duties of a duty bearer. Apart from being a privilege, it is a burden you must endeavor from the time you took your oath of office,” Alangui said.        

    While the IPMRs submit and concur that they share to same weighed of accountability and liability, as duty bearers, with the rest of civil servants, they cannot however help but question why they are being treated differently within their respective Sanggunian. Most of the IPMRs cry foul and highlight human rights violation due to the non-remuneration of salaries and/or honorariums of Barangay IPMRs by the local government units.     

    The special investigators concurred with the ELs that non-remuneration of salaries and/or honorariums of Barangay IPMRs by the local government units is indeed a violation of the human rights given that IPMRs must be accorded with equal benefits and privileges equivalent to those enjoyed by their fellow council legislators. After all, according to the duo, our laws were promulgated not to discriminate but rather to tilt heavily towards equality and fairness.

    “Should you believe that the actions or inactions of fellow duty-bearer constitute human rights violations, it is our challenge that you document the same either though writing, photographs and/or video” were the parting advice of Alangui and Laking to the EL. 

    “Documentation has no substitute. Your words through writing, photos and videos can vividly illustrate your situation inside your community. Your documentation may not only lead to case build-ups, but more importantly, it will be your mouthpiece that will tell your story to the rest of the IPs,”Alangui said.