Selected Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Cherry Ann Codilla is hopeful that the Regional Trial Court Branch 53 will rule by the end of March on the pending mandamus case filed against the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) XI regional director Geroncio R. Aguio.
In an interview at the Sangguniang Panlungsod building, Codilla stated that she is still waiting for the position of the court but she continues to hope that the decision will be on her side.
“There are no certainties yet because everything is in the decision of the judge. But I am still praying for it,” Codilla, a member of the Bagobo Klata, said.
Bai Halila Sudagar, a Kagan, is currently installed as the Indigenous People’s Mandatory Representative (IPMR) on a holdover status.
The NCIP could not yet pursue the selection of another IPMR because of the pending case.
Sudagar, however, is running for councilor is the second district for the May 2019 midterm elections.
In an interview, Sudagar said “as of the moment, there is an ongoing validation on the Talaukom or the IP council of elders.
“I believe that there if they still could not select an IPRM after the elections, I will still be the IPMR because as stated on my holdover capacity, I will retain the position unless there is an election process,” she said.
Sudagar also said that there is also a possibility that an IPMR will be installed once the 19th Council begins so that he or she will be able to serve for three years along with other councilors.
She added that she is positive that the NCIP continues with its job to facilitate the selection process to iron out glitches to avoid similar issues in the fugure.
“The NCIP continues to facilitate the selection process of the IPRM from the Klata but they are keen now on the selection of the Talaukom, unlike before when many of the members of the Council of Elders are not Klata tribe members,” Sudagar said.
On June 5, 2018, Aguio presented before the City Council the result of their review of Codilla’s qualifications as the IPMR. The results proved that she failed to reach the required 25% IP blood because she only has 6.35% Bagobo Klata blood and 6.25% Bagobo Tagabawa blood.
Codilla was selected as the IPRM in April of last year after getting 241 votes from the 431 voting members.
