Sen. Pimentel: Batas kailangan sa “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn and pledge

IGINIIT ni Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III na kailangan ng batas para sa pag-awit at pagbigkas ng “Bagong Pilipinas” hymn and pledge.

Sa isang text message sa mga mamamahayag, ipinaliwanag ni Pimentel na hindi sapat ang simpleng executive directive dahil ito ay “involves the way of thinking of the people.”

“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,” punto ni 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,” punto pa niya.

Pabor din si National Union of People’s Lawyers president Atty. Ephraim Cortez na dapat may batas para sa naturang usapin.

“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,” wika ni Cortez. (Mylene Alfonso)