TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 825
i y-
s 
cl iSi: ;:r
25 AUG-4 PI :41
RECEIVrU 3
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A PROPORTIONATE SCHOOL ADMISSION AND 
ACCEPTANCE SHARE IN THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE ACADEMY FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Indigenous peoples in the Philippines belong to different ethnic groups and 
reside in various parts of the country. There are more than one hundred ten (110) 
indigenous communities, about 61% in Mindanao, 33% in Luzon, and 6% in the 
Visayas.
Article II, Section 22 of the 1987 Constitution states, 'The State recognizes and 
promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of 
national unity and development"
To carry out this constitutional mandate. Republic Act No. 8371, or 'The 
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997," was enacted. The law undertakes to 
improve the situation of indigenous peoples and indigenous communities. The law 
declares that "The State recognizes its obligations to respond to the strong expression 
of the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs)/indigenous peoples (IPs) for cultural 
integrity by assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the direction of education, 
health, as well as other services of ICCs/IPs, to render such services more responsive 
to the needs and desires of these communities."
To fulfill the objectives of the law, it is essential to provide indigenous peoples 
and communities with greater opportunities to participate in the formulation and
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implementation of national policies and programs. However, they remain 
underrepresented in many sectors of society, including in the recruitment processes 
of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and the Philippine Military Academy 
(PMA).
In recognition of the valuable role that ICCs and IPs play as custodians of the 
nation's cultural heritage, this bill proposes the allocation of a proportionate 
recruitment share for their members in both the PNPA and the PMA. The measure 
mandates these institutions to admit and enlist ICC/IP members into their academic 
programs.
The bill also protects ICCs/IPs from any form of discrimination by subjecting to 
disciplinary action any person, public official, or employee who discriminates in any 
manner against members of the ICCs/IPs.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly sought.
REN LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
oi (!)C ■'
25 AUG -4 P1 -41
SENATE 
S. No.
RECOvraii.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A PROPORTIONATE SCHOOL ADMISSION AND 
ACCEPTANCE SHARE IN THE PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY AND THE 
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE ACADEMY FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Katutubong
2 
Tagapagtanggol Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State:
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(a) To recognize and promote the civil, political, economic, social, and
5 
cultural rights of indigenous cultural communities or indigenous peoples
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in accordance with the Constitution and applicable norms and principles;
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(b) To recognize the distinct characteristics and identity of the indigenous
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cultural communities or indigenous peoples, which the State must take
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special measures to ensure that they are afforded rights, protections,
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and privileges with regard to recruitment and employment; and
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(c) To involve the indigenous cultural communities or indigenous peoples in
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national defense and national law enforcement as part of national unity
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amidst diversity.
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Sec. 3. Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) - It
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shall refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription
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and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as an organized community on
2 
communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership
3 
since time immemorial, occupied, possessed, and utilized such territories, sharing
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common bonds of language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits,
5 
or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization,
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non-indigenous religions, and cultures, become historically differentiated from the
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majority of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall, likewise, include peoples who are regarded as
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indigenous on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the
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country at the time of conquest or colonization or at the time of inroads of non-
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indigenous religions and cultures or the establishment of present state boundaries
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who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions,
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but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have
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resettled outside their ancestral domains.
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Sec. 4. Recruitment of ICCs/IPs in Law Enforcement and National Defense. -
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The Philippine National Police Academy and the Philippine Military Academy are hereby
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mandated to admit and enlist members of ICCs/IPs into their academic programs. At
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least ten percent (10%) of the new cadets shall belong to ICCs/IPs.
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Sec. 5. Rights of Enlisted Members of ICCs/IPs. - Members of ICCs/IPs admitted
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in the academic program shall not be discriminated against by reason of their physical,
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social, cultural backgrounds, and religious beliefs.
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Sec. 6. Penaities. - Any person, public official, or employee who discriminates
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in any manner against members of the ICCs/IPs by reason of their membership shall
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immediately be subjected to proper disciplinary action or proceedings.
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Willful failure, refusal, or negligence by the disciplining authority in the
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initiation, investigation, and disposal of disciplinary proceedings due to violations of
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this Act shall be a cause for dismissal from the service of the disciplining authority.
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Any sanctions for violations provided under this Act shall be without prejudice
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to the criminal penalties and sanctions provided under Republic Act No. 8371,
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otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of National
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Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall


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collaborate and issue within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act the
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implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
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The implementing rules and regulations shall provide accommodations for
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members of the ICCs/IPs regarding their admission and avoid qualifications and
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disqualifications that discriminate against them due to their diverse qualities.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
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and other executive issuances inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this
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Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
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its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
14 
general circulation.
Approved,