Subanens Charge P120-thousand Penalty to NCIP

For violating the customary laws of the Subanens in Bayog, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Zamboanga del Sur will be fined P120,000.00 by the leaders of the Balay Gukom de Bayog.

In a meeting conducted last July 24 at the Balay Gukom de Bayog, the council of leaders of the Ancestral Domain in Bayog town, Zamboanga del Sur, headed by Timuay Labi Somegol Ombang decided to charge the NCIP with P120-thousand penalty as the said office being the facilitator between the Subanen community and the Ferrum Pacific Mining Corporation conducted a Community Consultative Assembly outside the Balay Gukom or the Tribal Hall of the Subanens in Bayog on the same day.

Under the Customary Laws of the Subanens, every decision or consultation that affects the ancestral domain of the Subanens should be conducted inside the Balay gukom of the Tribal Hall, the Timuays unanimously said.  

“Mura me ug giyatakan mga Subanens sa amoang kaugalingong dapit nga wala respetohi ang amoang kaugalingong balaod,” says Timuay Locenio Manda who was also appointed on the same meeting as the representative of Timuay Ombang as the head claimant of their Ancestral Domain. 

He added that they already sent a response to the office of the NCIP upon receiving the letter invitation regarding the said forum explaining about the customary laws of the tribe; however, the NCIP remained on their decision to conduct the consultation in Barangay Datagan instead of doing it in the tribal Hall in Barangay Bubuan.

Accordingly, the NCIP believes that the people in Barangay Datagan who are directly affected by the application should be the ones consulted, and it is not necessary to go to Barangay Bubuan.

“The activity in Barangay Datagan is unofficial because it was not conducted inside the Balay Gukom. It is considered null and void,” Timuay Manda revealed.  {sidebar id=9}

“Walay leader nga modapit ngadto sa laing dapit aron nga mohusay ug laing kaso,” explains Timuay Nanding Mudai, Executive Director of the Pegsalabukan Bangsa Subanen, adding “Susama lang nga ang usa ka judge sa korte dili mopakanaog ug desisyon gawas sa iyang sala.”

It was learned that after the meeting, a communication letter was sent to the NCIP to inform them of the decision.  

Last update : 25-09-2007 12:20

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