Senators rally behind JV Ejercito’s call to restore historic monuments in San Juan
May 10, 2023
Lawmakers joined Senator Joseph Victor “JV”
Ejercito’s call for the return of three historic monuments to their original
locations in San Juan.
Recently, the local government of San Juan
relocated three monuments honoring Katipunan founder Andres Bonifacio,
revolutionary general Emilio Jacinto, and nationalist writer Dr. Jose Rizal to
obscure locations around the Pinaglabanan Shrine.
Senator Robinhood Padilla, who portrayed
Bonifacio in the biographical film Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, said the move
is tantamount to a second death sentence against the revolutionary hero.
He also likened the relocation of the
Bonifacio, Jacinto, and Rizal monuments to the recent removal of three World
War II heroes from the front side of the P1,000 banknote.
“Iwasan na po sana natin ang masyadong
pulitika. Pinatay na nga si Supremo Andres Bonifacio nang dahil sa pulitika.
Lagpas isang daang taon na, pulitika pa rin,” he said.
“Dapat araw-araw nating nakikita ang mga
bayani natin sapagkat utang natin ito lahat sa kanila. Ito nanaman tayo.
Tinatago nanaman natin (ang ating mga bayani),” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino said many
historical landmarks linked to Bonifacio beyond Pinaglabanan have also suffered
similar fates.
He revealed that he once mistook Bonifacio’s
cell at the Casa Hacienda de Naic, now part of the Naic Elementary School, as a
toilet room due to its decrepit state.
The lawmaker from Cavite called on his
colleagues to review and strengthen the country’s heritage laws.
“Kung hinihiling ng ating colleague na
maibalik ang estatwa sa orihinal na posisyon nito, palagay ko, it can. It
should. It must. This is to restore the glory, honor, and dignity of Gat Andres
Bonifacio,” Tolentino said.
For her part, Senator Pia Cayetano joined her
fellow lawmakers in calling for a probe on the said incident, saying that the
three relocated monuments are of national significance.
“I join our colleague in expressing our dismay
and our disappointment na yung monuments na ganito na napakaimportante di
lamang para sa mga taga-San Juan pero sa buong Pilipinas ay basta nalang
nawala,” she said.
