The Bonifacio sculpture stands in front of the Tutuban station: A historical distortion perpetuated even by the most esteemed historians. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
A militant lawmaker in the House of Representatives said 1896 revolution leader Andres Bonifacio should be honored as a hero and not former President Emilio Aguinaldo or the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
“Let us give due recognition and respect for the likes of Gat Andres Bonifacio who sacrificed everything for the motherland. We must also be very wary of those who claim they are heroes like Emilio Aquinaldo and Ferdinand Marcos who were only looking out for their vested interests,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said in a statement on Monday to commemorate National Heroes Day.
Aguinaldo was elected in the 1897 Tejeros Convention as the country’s president. Later, Aguinaldo approved the order to execute Bonifacio for treason and sedition.
On the other hand, Marcos in his two-decade regime imposed martial law that resulted in violations of human rights and killings and torture of activists.
Zarate said the party-list would file a bill and resolution recognizing Bonifacio as the first Philippine president and a national hero.
READ: Bonifacio for all Filipinos not just for poor
“Bonifacio’s presidency has long been established in academic circles based on original and authentic documents of the Philippine Revolution against Spain, and as attested by historians of note such as Milagros C. Guerrero, Emmanuel N. Encarnacion and Ramon N. Villegas, Andres Bonifacio founded the first national government of the Philippines and served as its President from August 24, 1896 until his tragic death on May 10, 1897. What is needed now is for all of Filipinos to know this, especially the youth,” Zarate said.
Zarate said on August 24, 1896 during the convention of the Katipunan, the national assembly passed three major resolutions—a nationwide armed revolution against Spain, establishment of a national government, and election of officials who would lead the nation and the army.
“On August 24, 1896, at the convention of the Kataastaasang Kapulungan or National Assembly of the Katipunan at Melchora Aquino’s barn in Barrio Banlat, now part of Caloocan, the Assembly passed three major resolutions: First, they declared a nationwide armed revolution against Spain; second, they established a national government; and third, they elected officials who would lead the nation and the army,” Zarate said.
“It was this government headed by Bonifacio that organized and declared the nationwide armed revolution against Spain in the Cry of Pugadlawin … and is the cause of today’s holiday,” Zarate added.
Zarate said it was only right to recognize Bonifacio as “the hero president who led and died for the Philippines.”
Bayan Muna earlier opposed the move to give Marcos a hero’s burial at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, which President Rodrigo Duterte supported to fulfill his campaign promise of putting a resolution to the divisive issue. RAM/rga
READ: Duterte gives go-ahead for Marcos burial at Libingan