House Deputy Speaker and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has filed House Bill No. 4047 renaming Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines based in Quezon City, to Camp Gen. Antonio Luna.
Pimentel filed the bill on Aug. 20 and was disclosed yesterday, the eve of National Heroes’ Day which is celebrated today.
The measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 4434, the 1965 law that changed the name of Camp Frank Murphy to Camp Aguinaldo.
In the bill’s explanatory note, Pimentel pointed out that Luna “has been described by historians as the most brilliant and capable of the Filipino generals during the Philippine-American War.”
Luna was chief of staff of the Philippine Revolutionary Army for 134 days during the Philippine-American War until his brutal assassination on June 5, 1899 at the age of 32 in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
“Luna deserves greater recognition for his patriotism and military prowess. Our bill seeks to honor and accord ‘The Fiery General’ the nobler distinction and prominence that he rightfully deserves,” Pimentel said.
“We are counting on our bill, once enacted, to rouse all Filipinos, especially our soldiers across the three military branches – the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy – to emulate and live up to Luna’s positive qualities, particularly his strong love of country and exceptional military skills,” he added.
He noted that Luna is widely credited for bringing “guerrilla warfare” into play way ahead of China’s Mao Zedong and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap.
Pimentel also cited Filipino revolutionary leader Apolinario Mabini’s estimation of Luna: “If he was sometimes hasty and even cruel in his resolution, it was because the army had been brought to a desperate situation by the demoralization of the soldiers and the lack of ammunitions: Nothing but action of rash courage and extraordinary energy could hinder its dissolution.” (Ellson Quismorio)
