ML Partylist To Push For More Empowered NCIP

By Mona Lagbas

March 6, 2025, Cagayan de Oro City_"The National Commission For Indigenous People's should be given more teeth and logistics". Thus bewailed ML partylist 2nd nominee and former Ifugao representative Teddy Baguilat during a presentation and press conference Thursday.

Former Ifugao Congressman and ML partylist 2nd nominee Teddy Baguilat expounds on ML's advocacies in a press conference Thursday.

Baguilat said that the mindset of functionaries of the NCIP should be more for the marginalised "katutubo" sector even as he also lamented the budgetary problems of the agency.

Former congressman Baguilat, author of 10 Republic Acts, added that more "teeth" should be given to the NCIP when it comes to validation and action on indigenous peoples' issues and concerns. He said that the NCIP is undermanned and should the ML partylist be elected this May, it will propose for amendments to the NCIP charter for the commission to expeditiously and judiciously address indigenous peoples' rights and privileges.

ML partylist's 1st nominee is former Senator Leila Delima while former congressman Erin Tanada is the 3rd nominee. ML partylist is number 6 on the partylist slot of the ballot.