Palace disowns bill proposing to rename airport

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles (Screengrab from video posted by Vic Rodriguez on Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Wednesday disavowed prior knowledge of a lawmaker’s proposal to rename Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) after the deceased former President Ferdinand Marcos, the father of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“This is not a bill filed by Malacañang so it is not our place to indicate whether it is timely or not. It was the congressman who filed it,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz Angeles said in a Palace news briefing.

She said the bill was still within the domain of Congress, which has not even convened and has organized the committees that will look into the proposed legislation.

The 19th Congress is set to open on July 25 when Marcos is also expected to detail his priorities in his first State of the Nation Address.

A number of lawmakers, however, have already started filing bills.

“It’s just been filed,” Angeles said of the measure seeking to rename the country’s premier gateway. “There’s no first reading yet, so any reaction would be premature if any is even warranted at this time.”

The bill was filed by Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. who said the airport should be named after the late president “who has contributed to the idea and execution of the said noble project.”

Originally an American airfield, the airport underwent major upgrades for international flights during the first Marcos administration.

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