COMELEC accredits KATRIBU Partylist

Baguio City (Nov. 21) -- KATRIBU Partylist’s petition for registration and accreditation was granted yesterday by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)-Manila office in a seven-page resolution signed by the Presiding Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, and Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph. The resolution states that “...We find the petitioner, KATRIBU, has all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to be admitted as sectoral party under the party-list system of representation.”

KATRIBU commended the COMELEC’s decision. According to Beverly Longid, KATRIBU President and first nominee, “We are pleased that the COMELEC recognized KATRIBU as a partylist representing the marginalized indigenous peoples (IPs) in the country. Our partylist believes that genuine participation and representation of indigenous peoples at all levels of government decision-making is necessary. Thus, we see our accreditation by the COMELEC as a step forward towards this goal.” Longid is an Igorot belonging to the Kankanaey and Bontok people of Mt. Province.

The partylist’s petition for registration and accreditation was filed at the COMELEC office in Manila on August 17, 2009. Subsequently, the COMELEC verified the existence of KATRIBU in different regions through COMELEC regional directors in Regions I-IV, IX-XII, the National Capital Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) starting September 1. The case was also heard on September 22, 2009 where Longid as the President of the party testified and answered all clarificatory questions propounded by the members of the COMELEC Second Division.

Established in August 9, 2008, KATRIBU aims to advance the rights and welfare of indigenous peoples through representation in Congress.

“As indigenous peoples, we have been historically struggling for our right to our ancestral lands and self-determination. KATRIBU aims to continue this by being the voice of indigenous peoples, if given the chance that we deserve, in Congress,” added Longid.

KATRIBU Partylist held its northern Luzon convention on November 9, 2009 in Baguio City attended by more than 250 indigenous peoples and advocates of indigenous peoples' rights from different provinces in the Cordillera Region, Ilocos Region (Region I) and Cagayan Region (Region II). Following this, KATRIBU’s national convention was held on November 12 in Quezon City which was attended by more than 500 indigenous peoples from different regions nationwide. The national convention selected nominees of the party where Longid was unanimously elected as the first nominee, and Virgilio Aniceto, an Ibaloy from Benguet, as the 5th nominee.

Reference:

BEVERLY “Sakongan” L. LONGID
KATRIBU President and First Nominee
Contact No. 09209191820