Dilution of bloodline worries NMC students

A number of local students at Northern Marianas College are worried about the impact of Article 12 and their opportunity to purchase land in the CNMI.

In a debate in the Current Issues class Thursday night, advocates to repeal the law argued that Article 12 is unfair and bias and denies them the chance of owning or buying land in the Commonwealth.

Ivan Mereb, president of the Associated Students of NMC, admitted he was shocked after learning for the first time about the bloodline requirements of the law.

“I am shocked about the law. I thought Article 12 was there to protect the land for the native people of CNMI…but then there are some loopholes that were explained how the bloodline can be diluted down to less than 25 percent. It’s something new to us,” he said.

Mereb, along with other student participants, admitted that they are worried on the impact of the law.

Article 12 stipulates that only persons of Northern Marianas descent may buy or own land in the CNMI.

The Citizens for Change to Article 12, a non-profit group, said that persons originally designated as NMDs were not exclusively Chamorros and Carolinians.

During the debate, it was disclosed to students that the child of a Chamorro who marries someone from the United States mainland or from Asia is considered only 50 percent NMD. This despite having at least one biological parent who is a Chamorro.

When the child with Chamorro blood, meanwhile, marries a non-NMD and bears a child, that child is considered only 25 percent NMD. That child’s child, even if he has Chamorro blood, could no longer own the land that would be passed down to him by her parents, grandparents, or great grand parents.

“We are under a different impression on this law. But now it’s becoming more complicated and the bloodline percentage seems unfair for many locals,” Mereb said,

He added that although he understands the need to preserve the land, he also acknowledged that there are certain liberties and civil rights that are also protected in the same way and should be brought to the court to decide.

Twenty-year-old Francine Camacho, after hearing the lectures, is convinced that her future is at stake.

“I realize that my future depends on this…and it will inevitably affected. We should take it out entirely to have a fair chance of getting land here,” she said.

Mary Indalecio, 22, said that new knowledge about NMI descendants created some confusion and worry among them.

“It’s like the end of the bloodline…and we need to act on this now before it becomes too late for our people,” she opined.

Amber Mendiola, 18, says she wants to hear the other side of the story about Article 12 before finally coming up with a position.

However, she said she appreciated how the presenters define being an NMI descent and the political term of NMDs.

Five of the core members of Citizens for Change to Article 12 were the event’s speakers and presenters. They include Efrain F. Camacho, Sen. Maria Frica Pangelinan, David Sablan, Marian Aldan-Pierce, Alex Sablan, and Atty. Vince Seman.

The Current Issues class is handled by instructor Sam McPhetres.