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| Timuay Allan T. Olubalang, Chairman NMIPC |
By Jun Enriquez
The Non-Moro Indigenous People (NMIP) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) convened for holding the 1st Inter-Tribal convention conducted at the Pagana function hall, Cotabato City dated August 25, 2026, a Tuesday.
The NMIP in BARMM composed of 6 Tribes attended the said convention with 10 individuals per tribe, with a total of 60 individuals to attend the event but only 58 were present. The six tribal communities participated in the said event are the Blaan, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanen Manobo, Higaonon, Lambangian, and Teduray.
Timuay Allan T. Olubalang, a Teduray tribe, was the Chairman of the NMIP Committee, spearheaded and moderated the said convention.
During the said event, a roll call of the tribal participants was conducted by Bae Caroline Love T. Magbanua, Head Secretariat of the Cultural affairs section. During the roll call, the name of the tribal participants were mentioned and responded.
Chairman Timuay Olubalang opened-up the main agenda of having two nominees to become Member of the Parliament in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
During the discussions in the open forum, the rotational positions as MPs were selected from the 6 IP Tribes representing male and female nominees. There were 3 rotational positions composed of 2 tribes per rotation. The first rotational position is composed of the Teduray and Lambangian tribes, the second rotational position will be composed of the Dulangan Manobo and Erumanen Manobo tribes, and the third rotational position are coming from Higaonon and Blaan tribes, were being approved through consensus.
The first rotational term of office for BARMM MPs consists of Bae Jo Gemma M. Jover, a female nominee representing the Teduray Tribe and Timuay Letecio L. Datuwata, a male nominee representing the Lambangian tribe good for 3 years per term.
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| Message by the nominees, (Right) Bae Jo Gemma M. Jover, Teduray; (Center) Timuay Letecio L. Datuwata; (Left) Timuay Allan T. Olubalang, Teduray, Chairman NMIPC |
The outcome results of the convention will be submitted to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for official declaration of the nominees as MPs representing the IP sector.
Accordingly, Bae Magbanua said that based on the 2026 Implementing rules and regulations of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code with COMELEC Resolution No. 11235 will select Two representatives from the IPs to the BARMM Parliament selected from the Inter-tribal assembly, supported by other related laws, rules and regulations, especially in the tribal structure.
Timuay Olubalang in his statements said that the selection of nominees is based on customary laws to strengthen the tribal customary practices, cultures and traditions. As chairman of the NMIP convention, he holds to take the oath composed of the 10 nominees, tribal leaders, and members of the 6 tribes.
Bae Jover manifested in her message extended her thanks to the convention IP delegates for their support as MP nominee of the first rotational arrangements. She said that IPs agenda will be the priority measures to be pushed in the BARMM Parliament. She said that she will not ruin her dignity of serving the Tribal communities. As MP, she is conceptualizing to create the council of IP leaders. She added that being an MP soon as IPs representative, she will follow the laws, rules and political structures to strengthen her capacity.
Timuay Letecio L. Datuwata, a Lambangian tribe also extended his thanks to the convention delegates of becomimg an MP Representing the IPs as nominee of the first rotational arrangements as approved by the delegates of the convention. He said that he will be coordinating with Bae Jover and other MPs in the BARMM Parliament for purposes of serving the Inter-Tribal communities in the region as the main agenda.
Datu Mario, a Manobo tribe, shared his views to have consultation of the 6 tribes to be conducted by the MPs representatives of the IPs and was deliberately agreed by the MP nominees to be the main agenda as members of the BARMM Parliament.
Bae Cornelio expressed her statements saying that the IPs have different tribal entities but peace loving people as one, united as the main vision of the tribal communities for peace. She added that the symbolic political structure of the IPs remain of having tribal rituals for peace, especially by declaring the first rotational arrangements of the MP nominees during the Regional Inter-Tribal Convention.
In the convention program, the tribal leaders extended their views by providing the messages of support by the tribal leaders from the six tribes moderated by Bae Cornelio. Each Tribal leader of the six tribes stated their messages of support, firstly by Datu Denchong Kadigilan of Dulangan Manobo; Alim Bandara of Teduray- Lambangian tribe; Datu Alejandro Abungan of Higaonon tribe; Datu Atipunong Saban of Blaan tribe; Timuay Jojo Ambangan of Erumanen Manobo Tribe. The said messages of support were address to the newly selected MP Nominees to Bae Jo Gemma T. Jover of Teduray tribe and Timuay Letecio L. Datuwata, a Lambangian Tribe.
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| Message by Atty. Erwin Garcia, COMELEC Chairman |
The Commission on Election (COMELEC) Chairman, Atty. Erwin Garcia together with Atty. Ray Sumalipao, COMELEC Director of BARMM and security personnel arrived in the convention in the afternoon of the day. A Tribal dance were performed by the tribal dancers for the birthday celebrations of COMELEC Chairman Garcia in the previous day.
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| Tribal dance presentation |
In his message, Chairman Garcia acknowledged the 6 tribal delegates in the said event, the Dulangan Manobo, Higaonon, Blaan, Erumanen Manobo, Teduray and Lambangian.
Above all, he acknowledged the two nominees to become Members of the Parliament after the election on September 14, 2026, as the first rotational position as agreed and approved through consensus by the 6 tribes. The incoming MPs representing IP sector are Bae Jo Gemma T. Jover, a Teduray Tribe and Timuay Letecio L. Datuwata, a Lambangian tribe.
He said that it was a long time ago that the IPs had no political jurisdiction over government responsibility. However, in today's perspective, the IPs will already be recognized in the BARMM Parliament to bring the voice of the tribes. (Written by Jun Enriquez, Digital-Mobile Journalist)
