CAVITE Rep. Abraham Tolentino filed a measure that will grant members of indigenous cultural communities a proportionate admission share in the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy.

House Bill 5334 or the proposed Katutubong Tagapagtanggol Act mandates the PNPA and PMA to admit and enlist members of IPs into their academic program.

Tolentino said that the State must recognize the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development.

“To concretize this, indigenous peoples in the country should likewise be given the opportunity on matters relating to national unity and development, including education and security,” he said in his explanatory note.

He said that the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples bring about certain issues that may hinder their entrance in academic institutions.

“The members of the indigenous groups in the Philippines should also be given the chance to serve, protect and defend the country,” Tolentino said.

House Bill 5334 mandates the PNPA and PMA to admit and enlist members of IPs into their academic program.

The bill requires at least five percent of the new cadets shall belong to IPs.

The measure also states that members of the IPs admitted in the academic program shall not be discriminated against because of their physical, social, cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs.