LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – It was a tension-filled morning last March 6, 2024 as six selectors each from the 13 ancestral domain municipalities of this province, which includes at least one nominee from the six, took turns to vote for their choice of nominee thru secret balloting who would become the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative in the Sanggunian Panlalawigan.
The IPMR in the SP sits as sectoral representative for all members of ethnolinguistic groups in the province and receives the benefits of a regular SP member who was chosen in a local election. In the case of Benguet, the ethnolinguistic groups are the Ibaloys, Kankanaeys, Kalanguyas, Karaos and Iwaks.
Before the secret balloting that was facilitated by officials from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), at least two rounds of “tongtongan” (dialogue based on customary law) were held by and between the nominees to thresh out means that could lead to a choice by consensus and avoid a divisive manner of electing an IPMR.
No consensus was reached in the “tongtongan” or “tavtaval” so that the election through secret balloting proceeded. The nominees and the corresponding votes they received were: Dr. Peter M. Cosalan (Tublay) who got four votes, Franklin E. Cocoy (Atok) and Romeo J. Pocding (Itogon) who garnered 15 votes each, and Benjamin G. Palbusa (Buguias) who received 43 votes. There were 77 selector-voters all in all.
There were no nominees from the towns of Mankayan, Kibungan, Kapangan, Kabayan, Sablan and Tuba, while the nominees of Bakun and Bokod withdrew their nominations and gave their support to other nominees.
Former La Trinidad councilor Arthur Shontogan was the nominee endorsed through a resolution by the La Trinidad Indigenous Peoples Organization (LTIPO) but withdrew his nomination when former IPMR Pendon Thomson nominated himself after the new selection guidelines was ratified last February 22.
Shontogan said he had to withdraw his nomination because having two nominees for one ancestral domain would surely result in losing the contest. Former IPMR Thomson disclosed no reason for nominating himself as he did not consult his move with Shontogan nor the other selectors.
In their introductory speeches, the nominees talked about their experiences in public service and their plans for Benguet IPs. Atok nominee Cocoy, retired regional director of the DAR-Cordillera said he wanted to remove politics in the selection of IPMRs as there were wild talks about a politician who was out to finance the “expenses” of a particular nominee.
Itogon nominee Pocding said he wanted the IPMR selection guidelines revised earlier or at least six months before the selection day in order to avoid the rush and to make the selection process run smoothly. The assembly crowd seemed to agree with the suggestions of the nominees.
Meanwhile, responding to pressing issues affecting the LTIPO, present IP leaders and elders who are either ancestral land claimants, land owners, taxpayers or residents in any of the 16 barangays of the ancestral domain of La Trinidad elected their new set of officers on February 29, 2024.
The new set of officers who took their oath officiated by Vice Mayor Roderick C. Awingan were: President – Marcos L. Anod, Vice President – Recto C. Alawas, Secretary – Benjamin P. Dulnuan, Asst. Secretary Mary Jo Karla T. Dulnuan, Treasurer – Soriano F. Dogcio, Auditor – Joseph W. Mangiben, Business Managers – Marivic C. Puyao, Thomas A. Abodiles Jr., and Andrea D. Fontanos. The LTIPO Advisers are Teodora H. Esteban, Arthur Shontogan and Victoria Tumbaga.
The election was facilitated by election committee members Alice Menzi, Teresita G. Panagan and Thomas Abodiles Jr. La Trinidad IPMR Richard Wacnisen who presided over the assembly witnessed the election process. By March Fianza (PRO)
