Misamis Oriental News – Cementing its role as the local instrument for peace process and nation-building, the Provincial Peace and Order Council – Conflict Management Cluster (PPOC-CMC), here, leveled the conflict within the
The leveling off was arranged by Vice Governor Norris Babiera assisted by Provincial
Director Ponciano D. Caberte of the Department of Interior and Local Government DILG)and Head of the PPOC Secretariat, through a dialogue to iron-out pressing issues besetting the communities, last August 9.
It was learned during the process that when the old chieftain, Florencio Dangwa, was
killed, Roberto Lag-e a.k.a. Datu Maloloy-on assumed leadership of the community.
Datu Maloloy-on, at the time, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with
Minergy Hydro Power Plant (HPP) prepared by the National Commission of Indigenous
People (NCIP) as stipulated in the IPRA Law.
As provided in the MOA, Minergy will allot Php500,000 for the use of natural
resources in the area, particularly, for hydro power plant with Cabulig River as its source. As part of the agreement, the money will be downloaded to NCIP and be used for the processing of their CADT claim.
However, during the leadership of Datu Maloloy-on several conflicts developed that
affected their transactions with Minergy HPP and CADT claim processing.
Because of this, the community appointed Josefina Pimentel as representative of the
tribal council, particularly on its CADT claim.
In 2009, Ladislaw Dangwa was appointed as the new chieftain. For some reasons,
Datu Maloloy-on could not accept the change in leadership.
He openly signified his intent and desire to claim the money allotted by Minergy HPP
due to the fact that he was the signatory of the MOA. He also expressed his belief that he is the rightful chieftain.
On the other hand, the tribal community conveyed their decision that the MOA with
Minergy should be amended to clarify some issues.
Aggravating to this circumstance, some properties of Sta. Clara Corporation, the
contractor of MINERGY HPP was burned by still unidentified perpetrators resulting in
damages estimated at Php70 million.
So far the communities agreed to strengthen their traditional political structure and clarify the role of Datu Maloloy-on.
They also agreed to meet up for another dialogue in the last week of August to
discuss amendments of the MOA and make a presentation of their final traditional political structure. (DILG-Mis. Or./PIA-10)
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