Thanks for the Support Accorded to us in times of mourning

DOJ approves murder charges agains suspects in Iligan solon slay attempt

By Tito Natividad Fiel

MANILA -The Department of Justice has approved the filing of murder and frustrated murder charges against nine men and several John Does for the slay attempt on Iligan City Rep. Vicente “Varf” Belmonte.

     Facing three counts of murder and four counts of frustrated murder are former Iligan City Mayor Celso C. Regencia, Alfeo Arnoco, Amador “Dongki” B. Baller, Rogelio “Kim” Pitos Sr., Rogelio Pitos Jr., Romeo “Loloy” Suganub, Peejay Capangpangan, Julito “Bino” Oros Ansad, Dodo Silvano and several John Does.

     The DOJ has dropped the case against Dominador S. Tumala who is now a government witness.

Belmonte identified his political adversary Regencia as the possible brains behind the slay try

Tumala, in his affidavit, identified Regencia as the mastermind.

     The resolution prepared by assistant state prosecutors Olivia L. Torrevillas and Susan Villanueva as well as prosecution attorney Agnes Farida Bagaforo-Arellano II stated that Tumala’s testimony was corroborated by other witnesses such as his claim that fugitive Capangpangan joined the former mayor in the slay attempt. Witness Raul Warak-warak said he saw Regencia and Capangpangan meeting with a group of people in a farmhouse.

     Tumala’s testimony that they were given M-16 and a carbine was corroborated by Cleofo Gaid Jr., according to Mark Lu Apag, who said they both saw a van coming from the burst of gunfire and saw three persons armed with long firearms.

     Tumala also said the testimony of one of the victims affirmed that they were able to hit Ansad during the attack.

     “The panel concluded that these circumstances and positive assertions from witnesses effectively gave credit to respondent Tumala’s narration of the incident that transpired prior to, during, and after the incident,” the resolution stated.

      Belmonte and his convoy were attacked by armed men on board a white L-300 van on Dec. 11, 2014, along Access Road in Barangay Gasi, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, on their way to Iligan City.

     A gunfight ensued, leading to the death of Police Officer 3 Mark A. Andres, Eustaquio Silawan and France Ian Dumaguing and injury of respondent Ansad.

     “The facts and circumstances presented show a concurrence of acts of the respondents toward a unified purpose of consummating the overt act of ambushing complainants,” the resolution stated.

     The resolution was approved by senior deputy state prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon and prosecutor general Claro Arellano.

     As of this report no comment heard from the camp of incumbent Mayor Celso Regencia about the case.

Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain Leaders pay a visit to Talaandig Tribe and learned a standard of their School of Living Tradition

SUNGKO, LANTAPAN, BUKIDNON –The Nine Leaders men and women of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain paid a two day visit over the weekend to the Talaandig Tribe in Barangay Sungko here and learned a standard of their School of Living Tradition that helps strengthen their customary laws. 

Tribal Leaders from Iligan posed with IP leaders in Dalwangan Malay balay City

     Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong, a Head Claimant of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain and currently Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the Sanguniang Panlungsod of Iligan City together with Tito Natividad Fiel, personnel of Mindanao Peace building Institute Foundation Incorporated (MPI) based in Davao and Journalist of the Philippine Daily Inquirer have facilitated the trip.

Fiel is a Project Coordinator for the Higaonon Tribe of MPI’s Resource-Based Conflict and Peace building Training Program that implemented in the six Ancestral Domains, four from the Subanen areas particularly Municipalities of Bayog, Kumalarang and Lakewood for Zamboanga del Sur; Municipality of Sindangan for Zamboanga del Norte and two for the Higaonon Tribe particularly in the City of Iligan for Lanao del Norte and Municipalities of Opol and Manticao for Misamis Oriental.

     Iligan City Lone District Representative to Congress Vicente “Varf” Belmonte has provided financial support in making the trip successful. 

Rep. Vicente "Varf" Belmonte supported the trip

 

     The delegates comprised of Datu Diamla Rolando D. Soong, Datu Ayudante Arturo Cunto, Datu Masericampo Paulino Guicanan, Baylan Trining Sisayan, Bae Dalumangkob Margelene Alivio, Bae Kaamulan Gloria Soong, Emmie Soong, Bregida So-ong, Edina Bitoon Menciano all from the Ancestral Domain of Bayug-Iligan and Tito Natividad Fiel of Mindanao Peace building Institute Foundation Inc.

     Datu Diamla said that the visit has provided them deeper insights in developing their module and curriculum of formal School of Living Tradition will be established in Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City the center of leadership of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain. 

     The trip was expected to last of five days but cut short after successfully met IP Mandatory Representative of Barangay Dalwangan, Malay Balay City in the first day of the trip and obtained a photo copy of their SLT module.

Datu Migketai officiated the ritual welcoming leaders from Iligan City

     In the same date at night it successfully met Datu Migketai Victorino “Vic” Saway together with his wife and shared their thoughts and experiences in reigning their Domain and the constituents that using the three instruments 1.“Agpangan” is the basis of their assertion, 2“Gantangan” a measuring box or scoop that regulates their action as not excessive and the, 3. “Timbangan” a weighing scale that will balance their actions provide a real justice. 

     Iligan City has more than 30,000 hectares of ancestral domain of the Higaonon Tribe that they occupied since time immemorial, the National Commission on Indigenous People the agency tasked by law to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people has validated it.

Talaandig Tribe Leader Puts Emphasis of Strengthening the Indigenous Political Structure as the Key in reigning Ancestral Domain

Datu Migketai left shared their  IPS to the leaders of  from Iligan

SUNGKO, LANTAPAN, BUKIIDNON – Datu Migketai Victorino “Vic” Saway, a leader of Talaandig Tribe here has putted emphasis of strengthening the Indigenous Political Structure to reign the Ancestral Domain as key to success. 

     Datu Migketai told the Tribal Leaders of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain when it paid visit over the weekend at Barangay Sungko, Lantapan here as part of learning a standard in designing a Module/Curriculum of the School of Living Tradition.

     “Putting different function in the community including the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative to the different level of legislative body in the Local Government Unit is important, but  the Indigenous Political Structure must be cleared and strengthened because without this, it would not put the body of leadership into a solid one”, Migketai stressed. 

     Datu Migkitai equates the Indigenous Political Structure to the body comprises of feet, arms, mouth, nose, eyes, ears and head that run the Ancestral Domain through its culture and five principles.

Datu Masericampo of Bayug Iligan expressed glad of acquired knowledge

     He shared the five principles of the Higaonon and the Talaanding Tribe which first is “Kilalaha” , a Mutual recognition and respect, second is “Sayuda” means a mutual sharing of Information, third is “Buliga”, means cooperation, fourth is “Uyaga” means mutual protection and preservation of life and the last is “Pabatunbatuna” means mutual obligation to help the needy. 

     Datu Migketai and Datu Diamla, head claimant of the Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain and the current IPMR to the Sanguniang Panlungsod of Iligan City shared their thoughts, insights and experiences of the School of Living Tradition as also key in strengthening, preservation and love of culture and tradition.

Malay Balay City IPMR Welcomes the Bayug-Iligan AD Leaders and Members

BARANGAY DALWANGAN, MALAY BALAY CITY – The Indigenous People Mandatory Representative of this Barangay Bae Inatlawan has welcomed the Leaders and Members men and women from Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain who visited their place in getting the standard of their

Bae Inatlawan Adelina Tarino, officiated a Welcome Ritual

School Of Living Tradition.

     Bae Inatlawan expressed  her gratitude for the time spent by the Tribal Leaders of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain in visiting their place over the weekend to learn how they run their School of Living Tradition and the work of the Indigenous People Mandatory Representative in the Sanguniang Barangay. 

     Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong of Bayug-Iligan AD who led the group visit expressed the same for the warm welcome accorded by the Barangay Officials and the IPMR to them and shared that the trip aims to learn from them on how it runs its School of Living Tradition. 

    met you in person and shared your experiences of preserving culture, tradition and ancestral domain under your tireless efforts to be recognized and respected”, Datu Diamla stressed. 

Datu Diamla explains to Bae Inatlawan the purpose of the trip

  “ We are so glad for the time you extended to us despite the short notice we did for this trip and we

     For almost half day meeting, the group has learned a lot and acquired experience from Dalwangan as references of the Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain if it pursues plan to formalize its School of Living Tradition. 

     Gradual assimilation to the Tribe happens everywhere in the country, especially if it is not already conscious to their trend and situation that some of its members are already overwhelmed by the surrounding environments and attempted to forget its roots of life, several testimonies from the community shows.

Leaders of Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain extended assistance to Dulangan Ancestral Domain and UNIHITRICO

OPOL, MISAMIS ORIENTAL –Bayug Iligan Ancestral Domain leaders have extended assistance to the Dulangan Ancestral Domain traversing Opol and Manticao Misamis Oriental on its boundary conflict resolution between United Higaonon Tribal Community based in Cagayan de Oro City.

Datu Mampinohan Norberto Puasan Dulangan A.D. Head Claimant

          Datu Mampinohan, Norberto Puasan said that both Dulangan and Unihitrico claimed barangay Bagocboc of Municipality of Opol as their Ancestral Domain that creates gap of their relationship which they want to settle it as soon as possible. 

          "We sought an assistance from Bayug-Iligan Ancestral Domain Leaders to mediate and administer the process to achieve equal justice", Datua Puasan stressed

             Datu Puasan considered the gap between Dulangan and UNIHITRICO over Barangay Bagocboc as big problem and they want to settle it with the mediation and facilitation from leaders outside the conflicting parties.

                 He was grateful that the Bayug Iligan Ancestral Domain leaders responded positively, and      Datu Diamla Rolando D. So-ong sent Datu Ayudante Arturo Cunto, Bae Dalumangkob Margelene Alivio, Bae Kaamulan Gloria So-ong, Datu Masericampo Paulino Guicanan to resolve the conflict.

         Tito Natividad Fiel, Project Coordinator for Higaonon Area of Mindanao Peace building Institute Foundation Incorporated on its Resource-Based Conflict and Peace building Training Program observed the process. 

           Tribal leaders from Dulangan, and the Barangay Bagocboc attended overwhelmingly the process, but UNIHITRICO representative ignored the notice and no one attended it.

                But the  facilitator from Bayug Iligan Ancestral Domain led by Datu Ayudante Arturo Cunto promulgated its decision justly by giving the supremacy of the will from the leaders of Barangay Bagocboc to reiterate their allegiance to Dulangan Ancestral Domain.

            The Bayug-Iligan Trbal leaders nullified the excessive penalties imposed by UNIHITRICO leaders against the Barangay Bagocboc Tribal leaders for defying its orders and instructions.

             The National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) Provincial Officer of Misamis Oriental Buddy Landong and its personnel Milan Sambili together with their Lawyer and the head of the Technical Management Services Department  (TMSD) Region 10 were present.