Teduray woman leads Maguindanao town
DAVAO CITY—After 25 years, leadership in the town of South Upi in Maguindanao del Sur, which sits within the vast ancestral domain claim of indigenous peoples (IPs) in the area, returns to a Teduray.
Mayor Helen Benito assumed office on June 30, but was not able to enter the mayor’s office as it was locked by her predecessor.
Benito finally gained access to the mayor’s office on Wednesday, or after two days of holding office at the town hall’s lounge, which is outside the executive office.
Former three-term mayor Reynalbert Insular, who won as vice mayor on May 12, arrived at the town hall on Wednesday to open the mayor’s office, said Jennevie Cornelio, leader of Inged Fintailan (Women’s Commission) of the Timuay Justice and Governance, the indigenous political structure of the Teduray-Lambangian tribe.
Surprised
Insular said he was surprised that the new mayor did not contact him so he could vacate his former office. He learned about Benito’s situation through the public and social media posts.
In a statement on July 1, Insular said his mobile phone and his office were always open but he did not receive any call from Benito’s camp.
Benito beat Insular’s wife Janet in the mayoral race.
Benito is the sister of the late Vice Mayor Roldan Benito, who was killed along with his aide in an ambush in Barangay Pandan, South Upi, in August last year. His wife and child were wounded during the attack.
On May 20 this year, or eight days after the elections, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group arrested the former mayor and his wife for their alleged involvement in Roldan Benito’s murder. The Insular couple posted bail for their temporary freedom.
Four Teduray politicians had held the town’s top post from 1976 to 2000. They were Santiago Moendeg from 1976 to 1986, Catalino Ariston from 1986 to 1988, Antonio Gunsi from 1988 to 1998, and Jovito Martin from 1998 to 2000.
