DAVAO City Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) Councilor Mande has raised concerns about the protection of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) following the rescue of a 15-year-old IP youth from Manila.
Mande revealed that in March 2025, authorities rescued a young girl from Romblon who had traveled to Manila in 2024 with a person she considered a friend. However, the girl had no prior travel experience and was unaware of the risks involved.
“In that city, her friend abandoned her without any guidance. She was left for almost a month without food, shelter, and money,” Mande said during the council session on Tuesday morning, March 11, 2025, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The councilor shared that their team, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the City Mayor's Office (CMO), rescued the girl. He stressed that this incident highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of anti-trafficking laws, as many Indigenous Communities (ICs) continue to fall victim to trafficking.
Mande said that the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (Ipra) grants rights and protections to IPs and that cases like this should serve as a reminder to uphold and respect these rights. He urged for better education and awareness among IP youth to prevent them from being exploited.
“To my brothers and sisters in the Indigenous Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, let us continue promoting education, providing guidance, and upholding the value of fights and life. Every life in this country is valued and cherished,” he added.
Mande raised concerns over social media vlogger Tor Bagtik’s derogatory remarks toward members of the Ata tribe, in which he referred to them as "louy na loud” (deeply pitiful). The councilor strongly condemned such statements, warning that they reinforce harmful stereotypes that contribute to the marginalization of Indigenous Peoples. RGP