House bill seeks separate court for IP groups

MANILA, Philippines - Indigenous people (IP) groups can soon practice their distinct justice systems in their own courts and with their own lawyers, once two pending bills in the House of Representatives are passed into law. House Bills 5751 and 5752 creates courts for indigenous people and provides for the appointment of lawyers belonging to indigenous communities in the country. "It is about time that we create courts for indigenous communities and let them handle and solve various offenses or cases in their own distinct way," author Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro) said in a press statement posted on the House of Representatives website. Rodriguez said the government should recognize the distinct justice system being practiced by the indigenous communities for centuries. "Our katutubos have their distinct justice system practiced for centuries which have effectively resolved most, if not all, of their disputes and differences," he said. Under the bill, courts shall be established to resolve cases involving indigenous peoples in provinces where there are concentrations of indigenous groups. Supervising the courts are lawyers who belong to each individual tribe acting as judges, "much like the Shari' a Muslim religious court." "Creating special courts for them will ensure that the old ways, and our rich cultural heritage as a whole, will be respected and safeguarded," Rodriguez said. - GMANews.TV