DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Resolving tribal disputes will soon be placed under the Council of Elders of the Indigenous Cultural Community when the City Council here would approve the proposal of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR).
City Councilor Bai Halila Sudagar has filed with the City Council here the IP Alternative Dispute Resolution in Davao City“ resorting to indigenous peoples’ traditional way of conflict resolution when invoked by disputing IP parties, in an indigenous cultural community in Davao City”.
Sudagar said the proposed ordinance, when passed, will also help decrease the number of cases in court as it will soon be under the council of elders to resolve issues in their respective communities.
The councilor clarified that the council of elders will only intervene in matters and cases such as theft, slander and other petty crimes.
“But of course, it does not include cases such as rape and murder, violence against women and children or those prohibited by the law,” Sugadar said.
The council of elders, as stated in the proposed ordinance, will have an equal function to Katarungang Pambarangay as “it constitutes to the preservation of the customs and tradition of the tribe, and provides insights and solution to address the conflict resolution and peace building processes, spiritual practices, rituals, and ceremonials.
In Davao City, identified communities with identified to have an IPMR are Poblacion in District 1, Buhangin, Bunawan and Paquibato in District 2 with 14 barangays and Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, Toril, and Tugbok Districts in District 3 with 66 barangays.(davaotoday.com)
