MANILA, Philippines?The Armed Forces of the Philippines has no plans for now to have its headquarters Camp Aguinaldo similarly declared a national historical site like the nearby Philippine National Police headquarters Camp Crame.
Declaring Camp Aguinaldo a national historical site would impact on any plans by the national government to privatize or commercialize parts of the 178-hectare camp in Quezon City to raise funds to modernize the military.
?It's actually a good thing but we have no plans for that right now,? AFP spokesman Commodore Miguel Rodriguez told reporters Tuesday.
Rodriguez, the AFP deputy chief of staff for civil military operations (J7), said they are well aware that declaring Camp Aguinaldo a historical site would give the National Historical Commission a say about future plans to make other use of parts of the camp.
?If it becomes a historical site, the NHC would have a say,? he said.
On Monday the 32-hectare Camp Crame was formally declared a historical site for its role in the 1986 People Power revolt that brought down the 20-year Marcos dictatorship without bloodshed.
Rebel soldiers led by then defense minister now Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and military vice chief of staff now former President Fidel Ramos defected from the dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Camp Aguinaldo on Feb. 22, 1986.
Then they transferred to Camp Crame where they were shielded by thousands of ordinary citizens from any attack from forces loyal to the late dictator, who was forced to flee the country on Feb. 25, 1986.
National Historical Commission executive director Ludovico Badoy said places considered as historical sites could not be easily sold by the government for other use.
Earlier AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said they are pursuing plans to have a central military headquarters by moving the headquarters of the Army, Navy and Air Force into Camp Aguinaldo.
He said having a single military headquarters will be more efficient.
Oban said they are not discussing the possible sale of Camp Aguinaldo.
