NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There are various indigenous groups in our country. The Cordillera peoples, also 
known as Igorot, are living in the highlands, foothills and river valleys of the Cordillera mountain 
ranges of Northern Luzon. Tingguian, Isneg and Northern Kalinga are found in the watershed 
areas of the Abulag, Tineg, and Chico rivers. These groups are largely swidden cultivators 
who depend on farming rice, root crops, and vegetables. Along the slopes of Mount Data and 
nearby areas are the Bontoc, Sagada, Ifugao, and Southern Kalinga. They are mainly wet-
rice cultivators who grow their crops both on irrigated terraces and swidden fields. The Ibaloi 
and Kankanaey inhabit the southern region of the Cordillera and their subsistence economy 
is based on wet and dry agriculture.  
The Negrito groups are the indigenous groups in Tagalog and Bikol region whose 
economies have depended on swidden agriculture, hunting and gathering, fishing, wage 
labour and trade. The Mangyans in Mindoro are clustered into the Northern Mangyan 
(Tadyawan, Alangan and Iraya) and the Southern Mangyan (Buhid, Taobuid and Hanunuo). 
A small group called Bangon is considered a branch of the Taobuid. Another small group, 
Ratagnon on Mindoro's southernmost tip, is closely related to the Cuyonin of Palawan. 
Generally, the Mangyans of Mindoro practice swidden agriculture combined with hunting, 
fishing, gathering and trade. 
Mindanao is divided into Moro and Lumad. For the most part, the indigenous peoples 
in Mindanao basically subsist through swidden and wet rice cultivation, hunting, fishing, 
gathering and the trade in locally manufactured items. 
Considering the distinct ways of life our indigenous groups have retained, there is a 
need to appoint judges belonging to indigenous groups in their areas.   
In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
April 12, 2023
6:30 pm
7856


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING THE APPOINTMENT OF LAWYERS BELONGING TO INDIGENOUS 
GROUPS IN AREAS DOMINATED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AS JUDGES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared policy of the State to give 
more representation in the judiciary to lawyers belonging to indigenous groups by appointing 
them as judges in their areas. 
. 
Section 2. Appointment of Judges in Areas Dominated by Indigenous Peoples. 
– In areas dominated by indigenous peoples, lawyers belonging to said indigenous groups
shall be appointed as judges.
Section 3. Rules and Regulations.  The Supreme Court shall issue rules and 
regulations to implement this Act. Said rules shall be published in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation.  
     Section 4. Separability Clause. – Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof 
be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones, 
shall remain in full force and effect.  
Section 5.   Repealing Clause. -  All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Section 6.   Effectivity.  -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
7856