Call for greater support to indigenous people

Senatorial aspirant Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go yesterday said he would push for the strengthening of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to protect the welfare of indigenous peoples (IPs).“I have heard many of their expressions of grief, complaints and concerns. Thus, I would like to look at their situation and how we can help. We will strengthen NCIP,” Go said in an interview.The former special assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte said there was a clamour from IPs to amend Executive Order 115 series of 2002, which authorises payment of death benefits to barangay officials who die during their term of office.The IP Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) to the barangay (villages), however, are not covered by the benefits, as the EO covers only the village captain, seven village councilors, Youth Council president as ex-officio member, and barangay secretary and treasurer who die during their term of office.Go was in Pampanga on December 21 with a group of Duterte supporters that brought more than 40 doctors from Metro Manila to give free checkups and medical advice to the indigenous tribe Aeta.