Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples select 2 reps for Bangsamoro Parliament

PARANG, Maguindanao del Norte — The Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples (NMIPs) have selected two representatives for the Bangsamoro Parliament, who are set to be proclaimed along with the 78 winning candidates in September.

The selected NMIP representatives are Jo GennaJover from the Teduray indigenous peoples and Leticio Datuwata from the Lambangian indigenous groups.

They were selected Tuesday from the nominees of the six NMPI communities of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) namely: Teduray, Lambangian, Dulangan Manobo, Erumanen ne Menuvu, Higaonon, and Blaan.

During the Voter's Education and Information Activity and Automated Counting Machine Roadshow held Wednesday in Cotabato City, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia said the selection of NMIP representatives was peaceful.

"Successful, tahimik at naging katanggap-tanggap sa lahat ng anim katutubo sa buong Bangsamoro," Garcia said. "Nakapili sila ng kanilang dalawang representante sa Parlamento na ipoprograma natin sa September 14."

(The selection was successful and peaceful, and all six Indigenous Peoples communities across the Bangsamoro accepted the results. They were able to choose their two representatives to Parliament, whom we will program on September 14.)

The first parliamentary Bangsamoro elections is scheduled on September 14.

Garcia said the poll body aims to proclaim all winning candidates by September 15. —KG, GMA News