ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 27 -- Councilor Martin Guinilac, an ex officio member of the City Council and the newly installed Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), announced on Tuesday that his priorities are the education and health of the city's IPs.

Guinilac, a Subanen, made the announcement at a press conference after taking his oath of office before Mayor Khymer Olaso at the City Hall.

"Education and health will be my priority. Especially education; we, the IPs, seem to be left behind," Guinilac said during the press briefing.

As IPMR, Guinilac is representing five tribes in the local legislative body. The tribes are Subanen, Sama Banguingui, Sama Bajao, Kalibugan and Yakan.

Each of the five tribes differs from the others...