Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,_ 2988

Introduced by REP. RODEL M. BATOCABE

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A “LIBINGAN NG MGA.
BAYANI” IN EACH REGION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RA 289, AS
AMENDED AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a regional pantheon to bury the remains of those who
are considered illustrious and heroic by the natives of such region

A “hero” or what a “hero” is, is a relative term. A hero becomes one because of
sterling and inspiring qualities that endear him to a group of people. More often than
not, these virtues and qualities become apparent in times of conflict, adversities,
emergencies and unusual circumstances. Conflicts in history usually involve two
clashing forces or groups of people and whichever side is victorious writes history in
their favor. There is usually a protagonist and the hero is the one who. championed the
cause of the victorious side. As such a hero to others may be a villain to some. It is rare
that we find heroes that are universally accepted as extraordinary people who inspire
others.

Accordingly, the standards of what a hero is can never be adequately measured,
much less legislated. For a hero is determined by the collective will of the people as
enshrined in our history books. But then, it can never be universal.

In like manner, geographical consideration should be taken into account,
because each region in the Philippines usually have its own hero or heroes. As a matter
of fact, a person considered a hero by the people of one region might not be considered
as one by people from other regions.

The most obvious example is the current controversy over the burial of former
Pres. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) which has been ruled by the
Supreme Court as a political question outside the ambit of judicial review and well within
President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive decision. This decision has been met with
criticisms and protest over the implication and symbolism of a burial spot for the former
President, who had been deposed for being a dictator, at the LNMB. Yet, the majority of
llocanos and other people from the northern part of the Philippines strongly believe that
former President Marcos is worthy of being entombed at the LNMB. The burial of former
President Marcos continues to polarize Filipinos and has not been resolved for almost
30 years.

The controversy that arose out of the contentious issue of whether former
President Marcos deserves to be buried at the LNMB could be avoided in the future if
this bill is enacted into law as the regionalization or localization of persons qualified to


be heroes will be left to the people of a particular region and will not be subject to
criticism, as their decision will not be imbued with a national character.

It is also in keeping with the idea of decentralization, localization and Federalism,
that a Regional Libingan ng mga Bayani dedicated for the remains of dead persons
considered illustrious and heroic by natives of that region be established by the State.

In light of all the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly soqght.

7

RODEL M. BATOCABE


aRenre

woud

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

8
HOUSE BILLNo._ 29°

Introduced by REP. RODEL M. BATOCABE

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A “LIBINGAN NG MGA
BAYANI” IN EACH REGION, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE RA 289, AS
AMNDED AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. This Act shall be known as the “Regional Pantheon Act of 2016"

Section 2. Purpose and Objective. - This Act shall provide for localized Libingan ng
mga Bayani, which will be a cemetery or pantheon in each region in the Philippines
dedicated for the remains of dead persons considered illustrious and heroic by the
people of such region

Section 3. Section 1 of RA 289, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

Sec. 1. To perpetuate the memory of [all-the] Presidents of the Philippines,
national heroes and patriots, and national artists and scientists, who are natives of
a particular region, for the inspiration and emulation of [thi

generation—still_unborn] the people in that region, there shall be constructed a
[National—Pantheon] Regional Pantheon otherwise known as {Name of
Region/Ethnic Group} Libingan ng mga Bayani or its translation in the local
dialect, which shall be the burial place of their mortal remains.

Section 4. Section 2 paragraph (a) of RA 289, as amended, is hereby further amended
to read as follows:

Sec. 2. [There is-hereby-cre

Department of National Defense (OND) shall have the folowing duties ad functions:

(a) To determine the location of a suitable site for the construction of each of the
said [National] Regional Pantheon, and to have such site acquired, surveyed
and fenced for this purpose and to delimit and set aside a portion thereof wherein
shall be interred the remains of [all] Presidents of the Philippines and another
portion wherein the remains of heroes, patriots, national artists, national
scientists and other great men of the [country] region shall likewise be interred;

(b) To order and supervise the construction thereon of uniform monuments,
mausoleums, or tombs as [the Beard] it may deem appropriate;


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(©) To cause to be interred therein the mortal remains of [all] Presidents of the
Philippines, the national heroes and patriots, national artists, and national
scientists;

(d) To order and supervise the construction of a suitable road leading to each of the
said [National] Regional Pantheon from the nearest national or provincial road;
and

(e) To perform such other functions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes
of this Act.

Section 5. Sec. 3 of RA 289, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

Sec. 3. The sum of [ene] three hundred million pesos (Php300,000,000.00),
or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the
National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to meet the initial expenses in carrying out
the provisions of this Act

Subsequent budget for the upkeep of and maintenance of the Regional
Libingan ng mga Bayani shall be included in the budget of the DND.

Section 6. Repeal of certain provisions of RA 289. — The following provisions of RA,
289, as amended, is hereby repealed:

[Sec.-6-This-Act shall take-effect-upon its approval]

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of National
Defense, in consultation with the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the
Department of Budget and Management, within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
the Act, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the effective
implementation of the provisions of this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions not affected thereby.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, parts of laws, decrees, presidential issuances,
proclamations, orders, ordinances, and administrative regulations in conflict with the
provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever
comes earlier.

Approved.