Rep. Lagman asks historical commission to stop auction of Bonifacio flag, heritage items
By Ben Rosario
Opposition Rep. Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay) yesterday urged the National Historical Commission of the Philippines to take legal steps in stopping the private auction the personal flag of Katipunan founder and revolutionary Andres Bonifacio and other heritage items.
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman
(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN) Lagman cited Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10086, the NHCP charter, as the legal justification that the agency can cite in seeking a court injunction that would stop the auction. The lawmaker said RA 10086 directs the NHCP to “acquire important historical documents, collections, memorabilia and other objects that have significant historical value”. “Heritage memorabilia and other historical articles must be acquired by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on behalf of the government for posterity rather than allowing them to be auctioned to private collectors with the possibility that these historical articles will go to foreigners or foreign places beyond the access and appreciation of generations of Filipinos,” said Lagman in a statement issued yesterday. The Leon Gallery recently announced the auction of Bonifacio’s personal flag at a minimum bid of P1 million. The sale has been set on September 8. Information released by the gallery indicated that the the flag, which used to hang in Bonifacio’s study, was sewn by his wife and fellow revolutionary Gregoria de Jesus. Also set for auction are the Katipunan Decalogue or 10 Commandments of the revolutionary society, Bonifacio’s photograph taken on his wedding day, and membership documents, epaulets and other insignia of the organization that led revolutionary fervor during the Spanish time. The Decalogue was reportedly written by Bonifacio himself. “The NHCP must immediately endeavor to have the auction canceled either by negotiation with Leon Gallery or by securing a court injunction,” Lagman stated. The opposition solon added: “To help the NHCP fulfill its mandate, I will file a bill appropriating an initial amount of P1 billion in the budget of the NHCP so that it could acquire historical memorabilia that have great historical importance. “
Albay 1st district Rep. Edcel Lagman(FEDERICO CRUZ / MANILA BULLETIN) Lagman cited Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10086, the NHCP charter, as the legal justification that the agency can cite in seeking a court injunction that would stop the auction. The lawmaker said RA 10086 directs the NHCP to “acquire important historical documents, collections, memorabilia and other objects that have significant historical value”. “Heritage memorabilia and other historical articles must be acquired by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on behalf of the government for posterity rather than allowing them to be auctioned to private collectors with the possibility that these historical articles will go to foreigners or foreign places beyond the access and appreciation of generations of Filipinos,” said Lagman in a statement issued yesterday. The Leon Gallery recently announced the auction of Bonifacio’s personal flag at a minimum bid of P1 million. The sale has been set on September 8. Information released by the gallery indicated that the the flag, which used to hang in Bonifacio’s study, was sewn by his wife and fellow revolutionary Gregoria de Jesus. Also set for auction are the Katipunan Decalogue or 10 Commandments of the revolutionary society, Bonifacio’s photograph taken on his wedding day, and membership documents, epaulets and other insignia of the organization that led revolutionary fervor during the Spanish time. The Decalogue was reportedly written by Bonifacio himself. “The NHCP must immediately endeavor to have the auction canceled either by negotiation with Leon Gallery or by securing a court injunction,” Lagman stated. The opposition solon added: “To help the NHCP fulfill its mandate, I will file a bill appropriating an initial amount of P1 billion in the budget of the NHCP so that it could acquire historical memorabilia that have great historical importance. “