Vice mayor absolved of sex raps isn’t off the hook yet

SANTA FE, Nueva Vizcaya — This upland town’s vice mayor, who was absolved earlier this month of sexual charges by his Kalanguya elders, may still find himself facing administrative charges.

This, as a group of lowlanders or non-Kalanguya residents, who have been demanding his resignation, is readying an administrative case against Vice Mayor Donior Tidang for sexually molesting a 21-year-old coed.

"While he was exonerated by his fellow Kalanguyas, we cannot afford to forgive him for what he has done to the girl," said Cupido Cruz, chairman of Barangay Santa.

Cruz claimed that this was not the first time that Tidang had been accused of sexual molestation. He cited three other alleged incidents for which the Kalanguya tribal court or tongtongan had also absolved him.

Tongtongan is an age-old practice among Kalanguyas, a subgroup of the Igorots, which settles disputes over rape and molestation, murder and other offenses which government laws consider to be heinous.

Tidang, who confessed to having sex with the college sophomore at least three times, was exonerated of the sexual molestation charges and ordered by the tribal court to pay the coed P90,000 as "moral damages."

To further appease the coed, also a fellow Kalanguya, Tidang, a father of four and a minister of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, was also instructed to sponsor a laga or traditional feast where animals will be butchered, cooked and later partaken of by his and the girl’s relatives.

Tidang insisted that the sexual encounters were consensual acts and that he did not force himself on the girl whose schooling he had supported after she graduated valedictorian in high school. Her relatives, however, said he might have exerted pressure on her, using his wealth and influence.

"While we respect their customary laws, Tidang, being a public official, may still be held liable for sexually molesting a fellow Kalanguya," Cruz said.

"He is not only the vice mayor of the Kalanguyas of Santa Fe but also of non-Kalanguyas, and his acts should fall under the jurisdiction of the courts, he being a public official," he added.

Cruz said they will use Tidang’s affidavits with the tongtongan as basis for the administrative complaint they will file against him.

Meanwhile, Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani said Tidang may still face administrative sanctions, although he said the vice mayor can no longer be charged criminally.

Agbayani, a former Regional Trial Court judge, said the testimony and affidavits of Tidang with the tongtongan may no longer be admissible in court.

He said the Constitution respects the customary laws of any recognized tribal group in the country.

Cruz said they will pursue the administrative complaint against Tidang with the Department of the Interior and Local Government for his suspension and eventual dismissal from office.

If nothing happens, he said they will initiate a recall move against him.

"If a lowlander committed the same offense against a Kalanguya girl, are they willing to also subject him to a tongtongan and have the matter settled by paying the victim?" Cruz asked, saying the coed, whom he described as "mentally disturbed," has stopped going to school

"How can we address him (Tidang) as honorable when he lost the moral ascendancy to govern," Rev. Gideon Gallo of the United Methodist Church said.