DATU Pagdatua Demetrio B. Bolo Sr. of the Bagobo-Klata tribe officially joined the 20th City Council as the new Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) on March 25, 2025, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
In a media interview, Bolo vowed to support IP with or without an ordinance, emphasizing consultations with tribal members to address their needs.
He aims to secure funding for uniforms, agongs, and other necessities for tribal leaders while continuing his predecessor Rodolfo Mande’s initiative of providing free education to IP children.
Bolo also plans to review existing ordinances to ensure they have Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for effective enforcement.
“Niadto ko sa scretariat, nitan-aw ug unsa ang mga natangong or gipang-veto nga ordinansa kay nahibalo ko nga maong gikinahanglan sa tribo or wala matakad kay apiki na sa panahon (I checked with the secretariat to identify pending or vetoed ordinances that are crucial for the tribe),” he said.
He took his oath of office on March 21, 2025, under the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and pledged to work closely with officials to protect ancestral domains.
Bolo’s appointment follows a rotational system among 11 ethnolinguistic groups, including Ata, Bagobo-Klata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Obu Manuvu, Matigsalug, and Moro groups such as Tausug, Sama, Iranun, Maguindanaoan, Maranao, and Kagan.
His selection comes after the Bagobo-Klata tribe missed their turn when Cherry Ann Codilla was disqualified in 2018 due to insufficient genealogical qualifications. Although Bolo was initially chosen, a legal case delayed his appointment, allowing Mande of the Matigsalug tribe to serve from January 2022 to March 2025.
Mande was honored with a Plaque of Distinction for his service, which included institutionalizing scholarships for IP students and proposing an IP Shelter at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). He is currently running for Third District Councilor in the upcoming elections.
The IPMR position is mandated by Republic Act 8371, also known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), ensuring IP representation in governance. The 1987 Philippine Constitution also upholds their rights to preserve and develop their traditions and institutions. RGP