Indigenous Mangyan Marcelino Pedro, 91, walked down the mountain early in the morning, “excited and feeling safe to exercise his right,” as he cast his vote at a school in Baco town during the recent midterm elections for national and local leaders.
This was far different from previous elections, which they used to fear due to harassment from those seeking to influence their votes.
At Casillon Elementary School in the village of San Ignacio, the voters’ list—with photos—was posted in the holding area. This proved helpful for many Indigenous People (IPs), some of whom still cannot read. They received assistance from trusted members of their tribe.
Pedro was among the IPs in Mindoro Island who turned out to vote at Accessible Voting Centers (AVCs) and in Separate Polling Places (SPPs) established in 15 villages, according to Rich Apollo Mamhot, the project officer for the IP Project under the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE).
LENTE is a non-partisan, nationwide network of lawyers, law students, paralegals, and grassroots volunteers dedicated to election monitoring and support.
Mamhot himself monitored the elections, which he described as peaceful and orderly at Ulanguan Elementary School in the village of Barahan, Sta. Cruz town, Occidental Mindoro province, despite weak communication signals in the area.
Another LENTE volunteer, Noel Merano, noted there were still some reports of discrimination against the Mangyans. On a positive note, he commended the participation of IP women volunteers, who showed courage in asserting their right to suffrage and gained a better understanding of inclusive rights.
One IP woman volunteer, who preferred not to be identified, expressed her disappointment toward individuals in her community who discouraged IPs from voting for their chosen candidates.
During registration, Merano explained that Comelec sets up satellite registration stations in Mangyan communities upon the request of at least 200 voters. “This helps prevent the ‘hauling’ (paghahakot) tactics of unscrupulous politicians, as Comelec personnel go to the community to bring government services closer to the people,” he said.
During the recent elections, early voting held from 5:00 AM to 7:00 AM helped expedite the process for IPs, individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, and senior citizens.
Indigenous Peoples’ Voting Project
In 2016, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) began placing AVCs near Mangyan communities and designated SPPs within regular precincts. Mindoro Island served as the pilot area for the Philippines’ Indigenous Peoples’ Voting Project.
Previously, Mangyan voters had to walk long distances to reach polling centers, where they often experienced detention and discrimination and were treated as second-class citizens when mixed with lowlanders (Tagalog) or non-Mangyans.
In 2016, this writer spoke to several Mangyan voters who said, “They would separate themselves from the Tagalog because they are shy people and observed that non-Mangyans were prioritized in voting. By the time they reached the front of the line, the precincts were closing, and they would be unable to vote.”
The establishment of separate polling places encouraged more Mangyans to participate in elections.
Merano noted that over the years, complaints regarding vote-buying and hamletting have been addressed.
Lawyer Rona Ann Caritos, LENTE’s executive director, said that the provision of separate polling places for the Mangyan was the result of years of consultations with the community and other Indigenous groups.
Comelec recognized the Mangyan’s right to self-determination and passed Resolution No. 10080 to address issues of intimidation and the “hakot” system—where candidates would virtually detain IP members for days leading up to the election to control their votes.
In the 2004 elections, this writer witnessed candidates in Paluan town, Occidental Mindoro, herding tribal members into a pala-pala—a shed-roofed with coconut leaves and fenced with wire. Candidates and their supporters would sometimes confine them in local gyms, cockpits, or even their own homes. On Election Day, candidates fed and held them there, expecting them to vote for their "hosts." This practice led to them being labeled as “hakot” or paid voters.
Fr. Anthony Tria, SVD, assigned to the Mangyan Mission, supported community members who wanted to end this practice. In previous elections, the Mangyan reported cases of discrimination, harassment, and threats from local candidates’ supporters.
Today, what began as the Indigenous Peoples’ Voting Project has expanded to benefit other IP communities across the country. It has become an equalizer—where rich and poor alike have one vote each to choose their leaders.
“There has been no harassment, and the elections have so far been orderly,” said Fr. Gabayno Oybad, a tribal Mangyan diocesan priest, referring to the communities under his care in Oriental Mindoro.
