Mandaya-Manobos Still Await NCIP Chairman and Ombudsman Action Nearly Two Months After Filing Complaint against NCIP Regional Director

Romeo Braceros Jr.

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posted on 49 minutes ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Nearly three months after filing an official corruption complaint against National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Regional Director Generoso Aguio, leaders of the Indigenous Mandaya-Manobos tribe are still awaiting public action or intervention from state authorities.

The complaint, submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman on May 21, 2026, alleges that Aguio unlawfully usurped the Indigenous Political Structure (IPS) of the Macambol Cabuaya Ancestral Domain Management Organization (MACAADMO). Tribal leaders accuse Aguio of bypassing legitimate community leadership to install a favored faction, enabling unauthorized bank withdrawals from ₱19 million in mining royalties intended for the community’s welfare.

Despite appeals sent to the NCIP, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Office of the Ombudsman, no formal action or investigation has been publicly announced as of mid-August.

"When a public officer sworn to uphold integrity uses their office for personal gain, it constitutes a betrayal of public trust. Those responsible must be held accountable," stated Datu Vidal Mapinogos Jr. and Datu Simplicio Mendoza Jr., leaders of the original MACAADMO, emphasizing that the community simply wants transparency and accountability for their rightful funds.

This administrative gridlock has increasingly spilled onto the streets. During a July 22 demonstration in Mati City, Indigenous protesters faced physical blockades along their route. While demonstrators ultimately reached the venue, verbal and physical tensions flared when they confronted the disputed MACAADMO interim officers named in the complaint.

Tensions have heightened further this week. This week, a second barricade — reportedly manned by armed ex-NPA forces — has been erected to prevent complainant tribal members from accessing demonstration sites.

Under its legal mandate, MACAADMO is required to operate under the exclusive leadership of authentic tribal members, entirely free from external political or administrative influence. The Mandaya-Manobos tribe continues to call on national agencies to enforce this mandate, freeze unauthorized accounts, and restore lawful governance over their ancestral domain.