TOURISM, YOUTH CONCERNS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT

An Act according Official Status and Legal Recognition to Tribal Peace Pact Holders as Persons in Authority, amending for the purpose Article 152 of Act No. 3815 and for other purposes.

"Mr. President, your Committee on Cultural Communities, headed by this representation, with generous assistance from the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, headed by Senator Edgardo Angara, is pleased to sponsor Committee Report No. 346 entitled “An Act according Official Status and Legal Recognition to Tribal Peace Pact Holders as Persons in Authority, amending for the purpose Article 152 of Act No. 3815 and for other purposes.”

Mr. President, this proposed legislation is a product of your committee’s careful study of Senate Bill No. 2427, filed by Senator Juan Flavier, Senate Bill No. 2515, authored by this representation, and House Bill No. 2269, which has already been passed on third reading by the House of Representatives.

Mahalaga ang bahaging ginampanan ng mga Lupon ng Tagapamayapa ng mga kababayan nating katutubo sa ating kasaysayan bilang isang bansa. Bago pa man sakupin ng mga Kastila ang Pilipinas, ang mga nirerespetong nakatatanda ng bawat tribo ng mga sina-unang Pilipino ang nagsilbing instrumento ng hustisya at kapayapaan sa kanilang tribo.

Sa kasalukuyan, datapwat may mga korte ng naitayo sa bawat probinsya ng Pilipinas, patuloy pa rin ang ating mga kapatid na katutubo sa pagtangkilik at pagsangguni ng mga kontrobersya at di-pagkakaunawaan sa kani-kanilang lupon ng tagapamayapa.

The duty and obligation of peace pact holders in tribal communities are paramount. They are revered members of the indigenous community, more than a barangay captain or a law enforcer.

No less than the 1987 Constitution accords high regard and reverence to Tribal Peace Pact Holders as it states under Article 14 Section 17 that “the state shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions, it shall consider their rights in the formulation of national plans and policies.” Certainly, the Tribal Peace Pact Holders are traditional institutions of our indigenous peoples who deserve protection and respect from our laws.

To give substance to the constitutional provision, this proposed legislation seeks to grant official status and legal recognition to tribal peace pact holders as persons in authority. More importantly, this bill acknowledges the invaluable contribution to our country and history by tribal peace pact holders who generously volunteer their time and energy, without compensation or any material consideration, for the cause of justice and peace.

For this reason Mr. President, it is high time that we give due recognition to the tribal peace pact holders as vital partners of our judicial institutions in the delivery of justice and our law enforcement bodies in their peacekeeping efforts among our indigenous cultural communities.

Muli, Ginoong Pangulo, hinihikayat ko ang ating kamara na agarang ipasa ang panukalang batas na ito.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay ang Katutubong Pilipino!"

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