DAVAO CITY-—
Eighteen Tribal leaders from five towns and one city Davao del Norte on Wednesday declared d Tagum City Mayor Rey Uy persona non grata for discrimination and called them lazy.
The tribal leaders from the municipalities of Talaingod, Kapalong, News Corella, San Isidro, and Sto. Tomas and Tagum City in a resolution passed during the meeting of the provincial tribal council “Declaring Rey Uy, City mayor of Tagum City, as persona non grata for discriminating against the indigenous cultural communities /indigenous peoples.”
Board Member Ariel Macla said they secured an audio recording when Uy called the IP’s lazy.
“Magmatngun si mayor Uy sa iyang gisulti ug hinanali siyang mangayo og psaaylo sa tribusa Davao del Norte nga nasakitan ug bisan asang lugar sa kalibutan.”
(Mayor Uy will be careful with what he says and he will immediately apologize to the tribe of Davao del Norte who has been hurt and anywhere in the world)
“Dili maayo iyang giingon aron sa pagdaut sa tribu sa Davao del Norte, sama sa pagtawag kanamu og tamad, Wala mi nangayo og bugas sa iya, giyatakan ang among dignidad, among dignidad hinatag sa magbabaya (It was found and demeaning to the tribe of Davao del Norte, like calling us lazy, We didn’t ask for rice from him, trampled on our dignity, our dignity was given to by God). said Datu Arturo Davao, the provincial tribal chieftain.
The resolution narrated that on April 11, the tribal leaders from said town and city “Voluntarily came to the provincial capitol grounds of Davao del Norte to express their support to Governor Edwin I. Jubahib, because the latter was served a sixty-day preventive suspension order by the Office of the President for a case filed by Board Member Orly A. Amit.”
The resolution stated that sometime on April 13, 2024, Acting Governor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, together with his father, Mayor Rey T, Uy of Tagum City, inspected the premises of the Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).
“While there, Mayor Rey T, Uy in the presence of Acting Governor De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, Acting Vice Governor Flopone Royla A. Catalan, employees and media personnel said in a loud voice “Oy kinsa may nagkaun ani, nganong nagpaluto man mo nga di man si Edwin ang Governor? Ngano man na? ..Ah No! No! No! No! kamu sus! Ayaw! Kay kanang mga lumad diha bisan pag duha mga tapulan man na! Ga pungko ra na sa ilang lugar, , Bisan pag duha ka tuig mosugot na diha magpungko kay libre kaon!.”
(hey! Who is eating this, why are you cooking when Edwin is not the Governor? Why is that?. ..Oh no! No! No! No! you gosh! Don’t! Because those natives are there even if two… they are lazy! They just sit in their place, Even if they agree to sit there for two years because they eat for free!.”
In the four-page resolution signed by ten leaders, they claimed the utterance of Uy “Is a complete disrespect to the person and dignity of all ICC/ICPs, a blasphemy to the core of our being and a total disregard to our basic rights as human beings in violation to our rights enshrined by the 1987 Constitution and the republic Act No, 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), most specifically Section 31 thereof in relation to Rule V, Section 3 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations.”
The resolution will be furnished to the Office of the President, the Office of the NCIP Chairperson Jennifer Pia S. Las, and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos.
The group said since April 11, they have been staying at the capitol grounds day and night and the statement of Uy demeaned them as human beings.
As of presstime, uy has yet to issue a statement relative to the resolution.
