13 May | The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) conducted 2nd day of Ancestral Domain (AD) visitation meetings with Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) at the Agusan del Norte Provincial Economic Enterprise Development and Management Office in Butuan City.

 

The NCIP Chairperson led the activity along with NCIP XIII Regional Director Ordonio P. Rocero, Jr.; while Chairman Lipatuan Joel Unad represented Mindanao Indigenous Council of Elders and Leaders (MIPCEL); also present were Elders and Tribal Leaders and NCIP Regional and Provincial staff. The rest joined the meeting through zoom.

 

Mr. Tirso Tello, an Indigenous People Organization (IPO) member of Apo Ongking Dawog Heritage Farmers Association Inc. (APODHAFAI) raised a complaint on alleged mismanagement of royalty shares against Bae Myrna Espulgar.

 

NCIP recommended to formalize agreements through a resolution indicating agreed royalty sharing schemes; cancel the registration of APODHAFAI in Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to terminate the legal personality of organization to conduct any transactions regarding royalty shares; and deposit due shares to beneficiaries in the process.