Law needed to mandate use of Bagong Pilipinas hymn – Pimentel

Police officers, medical, security, and essential frontliners join the parade of colors and flag hoisting ceremony at SM City Masinag in Antipolo to celebrate the 123rd Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 2021. —File photo by Niño Jesus Orbeta, Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III believes a law is needed to mandate the singing of the Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) hymn during flag ceremonies in government offices and instrumentalities, including institutional institutions.

The order is contained in Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 52, issued on June 4 but only released to the media on Sunday.

READ: ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ hymn, pledge now in flag rites

“I suggest that the Executive Branch should submit a bill containing those ideas (to sing a new song and recite a new pledge) to amend the existing law(s) governing the National Anthem, Pledge, and Flag Raising ceremonies,”  Pimentel said in a Viber message.

“The EO (Executive Order) is not sufficient. I believe a law is needed in order to authorize that,” he stressed.

When told that the new directive was contained in the MC, Pimentel maintained that the same needs a law.

“Yes because this involves the way of thinking of the people. Hence, such a mandate must emanate from the people’s chosen representatives, their legislators,” he explained.

“Also notice that the MC involves SUCs (state universities and colleges). The students therein are not even government employees. They all observe the established flag ceremony under existing law,” he pointed out.

The inclusions of government-owned and/or controlled corporations and educational institutions, including SUCs, are specifically mentioned in the MC.

Meanwhile, local government units are only encouraged “to integrate the recital of the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn and Pledge in the conduct of weekly flag ceremonies, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.