Unresolved concerns over ancestral domains and leadership disputes among Indigenous communities in Palawan persist due to the absence of confirmed Indigenous Political Structures (IPS), the province’s Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) said.
IPMR Arnel Abrina raised the issue, warning that the lack of officially recognized tribal governance systems has resulted in confusion, competing leadership claims, and delays in addressing Indigenous peoples’ concerns.
“Magpasa hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring confirmed IPS or Indigenous Political Structure sa anumang tribo dito sa lalawigan ng Palawan,” Abrina said.
He explained that without a legitimate and confirmed IPS, Indigenous communities struggle to determine proper representation, particularly when conflicts arise over ancestral domains.
“Kapag mayroong mga problema ang ating mga katutubo, kung mayroong mga issues and concerns pagdating sa kanilang ancestral domain, hindi po nila alam kung kanino lalapit. Dahil sa isang tribo, halos dalawa o tatlong grupo ng mga leaders na sa ngayon ay wala pang confirmed kahit isa,” he said.
Abrina added that this leadership vacuum forces many Indigenous individuals to seek help from multiple government agencies and non-government organizations, often without resolution.
“Napakaraming mga katutubo na may mga suliranin na hinihingi pa ng tulong sa iba’t ibang grupo, sa iba’t ibang NGO, sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno pero magpasa hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nabibigyan ng kalutasan ang kanilang suliranin,” he said.
He emphasized that identifying and confirming legitimate IPS in each tribe would help streamline leadership, reduce internal divisions, and ensure faster resolution of issues.
Under the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997 (RA 8371), IPS are legally recognized governance systems, with NCIP Administrative Order No. 2 outlining the process to establish their legitimacy.
