SENATOR Francis Tolentino filed a measure that will provide proportionate school admission and acceptance share to members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples in the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy.

Senate Bill 1586 or the proposed Katutubong Tagapagtanggol Act of 2022 aims to recognize and promote the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of IPs.

Tolentino said that the measure aims to involve IPs in the national defense and national law enforcement as part of national unity amidst diversity.

The measure mandates the PNPA and the PMA to admit and enlist members of ICC/IPs in their academic program.

Under the bill, at least 10 percent of the new cadets shall belong to ICC/IPs.

Members of the ICC/IPs admitted in the academic program shall not be discriminated against by reason of their physical, social, cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs.