MANILA, Philippines – Binalaan ni Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III nitong Lunes ang Palasyo sa isang executive order na nagtatakda sa pagbigkas ng “Bagong Pilipinas” tuwing flag ceremony dahil kailangan muna ng batas.
Sa kanyang text message sa reporter, ipinaliwanag ni Pimentel na kapos ang simpleng executive order sa pagbigkas nnito na kinasasangkutan kung paano mag-iisp ang mamamayan.
“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. The EO is not sufficient. I believe a law is needed in order to authorize that,” ayon kay Pimentel.
“[T]his involves the way of thinking of the people. Hence(,) such a mandate must emanate from the people’s chosen representatives, their legislators. Also notice that the MC (memorandum circular) involves SUCs (state universities and colleges). The students therein are not even government employees. They all observe the established flag ceremony under existing law,” giit niya.
Pumabor naman ni National Union of People’s Lawyers president Atty. Ephraim Cortez kay Pimentel na kailangan muna ng batas bago maitupad ang naturang executive order.
“In my opinion, the President cannot simply issue an Executive Order to require the singing of [the] Bagong Pilipinas hymn alongside the National Anthem and the Panatang Makabayan,” ayon kay Cortez sa pahayag.
“A law is needed,” dagdag niya.
Ipinaliwanag ni Cortez na inatasan ng Republic Act 8491 or Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines ang pagkanta ng National Anthem at pagbigkas ng Panatang Makabayan.
“By requiring the new hymn to be sung alongside the National Anthem is raising its status to a symbol of nationhood,” aniya.
Kamakailan, ipinalabas ng Malacañang ang kautusan sa lahat ng national government agencies t educational institutions na gamitin ang “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines) hym at pangako bilang bahagi ng lingguhang flag ceremonies.
Nakatakda sa Republic Act No. 8491 o ang “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” na magsagawa ang lahat ng government offices, kabilang ang local government units, ng flag raising ceremony tuwing LUnes ng umaga at ibaba tuwing hapon ng Biyernes. Ernie Reyes
