Bodong elders tell GMA to resign 05-08-28

	NORDIS WEEKLY August 28, 2005
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Bodong elders tell GMA to resign
BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 17) — Tribal leaders mostly from the bodong (peace pact) practicing areas in Kalinga and Mountain Province joined the various sectors calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s immediate resignation, saying she cannot effectively rule the nation. The gathering at the St. Elizabeth’s Guest House at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines Compound here on August 14, was attended by almost 100 leaders who signed a unity statement as part of the commemoration of August as national indigenous peoples’ month. “She (GMA) has brought grave misery to the life of the Filipino people due to her economic policies that favor the interests of foreign investors instead of the interests of the Filipino people,” their statement in Ilocano read. Election fraud, kickbacks Aside from her alleged rigging of the 2004 elections as manifested by her conversations with COMELEC Commissioner Garcillano, the elders claimed GMA used her office and government funds to ensure her victory. “The first family is involved in other corruption cases, not only jueteng payoffs,” claimed the elders in their statement. They said that the first family was involved in kickbacks from overpriced government contracts and sales of public estates. “While she clings on to power, political and social crisis persist, damaging the national economy,” stated the elders who are bonded under the Metro Baguio Tribal Elders and Leaders Assembly (MBTELA). MBTELA has significant memberships of women elders from the binodngan tribes who are now residing in this city. They also support the call for a transition council where different sectoral groups, including indigenous peoples, will be represented. The council will supposedly serve as caretaker, and body that will prepare for snap elections to choose new leaders. Organizing for welfare There is a need to organize our ranks to push for our rights and welfare, claimed Mariano Datol, the newly elected MBTELA chairman from the Mabongtot sub-tribe of Kalinga. He shared the importance of organizing their ranks, as he attested that their urban poor organization helped in bringing their plight to concerned agencies in the city. The elders and their families migrated to the city and now reside in the different barangays classified as urban poor areas due to absence of services and the residents’ jobs are seasonal or irregular, including side walk vending and stone walling. Meanwhile, the other MBTELA officers elected on Sunday are: Simplicio Sicuan (vice-chairman and a Kankanaey), Jose Cawiding (secretary-general and from Sadanga), Judy Falton (Treasurer and a Kankanaey), and Mariano Pinto and Edward Fangloy (Auditors and Bontoks, respectively). They will serve for two years. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS
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	NORDIS WEEKLY August 28, 2005
Home \| To bottom	Previous \| Next
Bodong elders tell GMA to resign
BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 17) — Tribal leaders mostly from the bodong (peace pact) practicing areas in Kalinga and Mountain Province joined the various sectors calling for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s immediate resignation, saying she cannot effectively rule the nation. The gathering at the St. Elizabeth’s Guest House at the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines Compound here on August 14, was attended by almost 100 leaders who signed a unity statement as part of the commemoration of August as national indigenous peoples’ month. “She (GMA) has brought grave misery to the life of the Filipino people due to her economic policies that favor the interests of foreign investors instead of the interests of the Filipino people,” their statement in Ilocano read. Election fraud, kickbacks Aside from her alleged rigging of the 2004 elections as manifested by her conversations with COMELEC Commissioner Garcillano, the elders claimed GMA used her office and government funds to ensure her victory. “The first family is involved in other corruption cases, not only jueteng payoffs,” claimed the elders in their statement. They said that the first family was involved in kickbacks from overpriced government contracts and sales of public estates. “While she clings on to power, political and social crisis persist, damaging the national economy,” stated the elders who are bonded under the Metro Baguio Tribal Elders and Leaders Assembly (MBTELA). MBTELA has significant memberships of women elders from the binodngan tribes who are now residing in this city. They also support the call for a transition council where different sectoral groups, including indigenous peoples, will be represented. The council will supposedly serve as caretaker, and body that will prepare for snap elections to choose new leaders. Organizing for welfare There is a need to organize our ranks to push for our rights and welfare, claimed Mariano Datol, the newly elected MBTELA chairman from the Mabongtot sub-tribe of Kalinga. He shared the importance of organizing their ranks, as he attested that their urban poor organization helped in bringing their plight to concerned agencies in the city. The elders and their families migrated to the city and now reside in the different barangays classified as urban poor areas due to absence of services and the residents’ jobs are seasonal or irregular, including side walk vending and stone walling. Meanwhile, the other MBTELA officers elected on Sunday are: Simplicio Sicuan (vice-chairman and a Kankanaey), Jose Cawiding (secretary-general and from Sadanga), Judy Falton (Treasurer and a Kankanaey), and Mariano Pinto and Edward Fangloy (Auditors and Bontoks, respectively). They will serve for two years. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS
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