Malacañang is not keen on making any comments on the proposal to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) as the bill suggesting such a move is still in its early stages.
Communications Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said this after Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. filed House Bill 610, which seeks to rename NAIA to Ferdinand E. Marcos International Airport, the father of the current President.
In her press briefing on Wednesday, July 6, Angeles said the Palace has no comment on the issue.
"Malacañang has no comment yet on this one. It's just been filed. After all, wala pang first reading," she said.
"Any reaction would be premature if any is even warranted at this time," she added.
In his proposed bill, Teves said it was "more appropriate" to name Manila's main gateway after "the person who has contributed to the idea and execution of the said noble project."
He noted that NAIA was "done during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Sr." However, the air hub, formerly known as the Manila International Airport (MIA), opened in 1948 during the Roxas presidency, 17 years before the late dictator was elected president.
MIA was renamed the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in 1987 after Republic Act No. 6639 was enacted without executive approval under the administration of the late president Corazon Aquino.
The renaming came following the assassination of the late senator Ninoy Aquino at MIA's tarmac in 1983. Aquino was one of Marcos Sr.'s staunchest critics.