TOURISM: Philippines’ Supreme Court junks Gadon’s plea on renaming NAIA
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
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The Supreme Court has denied the petition seeking to nullify a three-decade-old law that renamed the Manila International Airport as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The high court’s spokesman Brian Hosaka told reporters today that the justices unanimously arrived at the decision yesterday for the petition’s “lack of merit.”
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Lawyer Larry Gadon late last month petitioned the nullification of Republic Act 6639, which renamed the country’s main airport to NAIA following the assassination of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ rival Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on its tarmac. Gadon, a vocal Marcos supporter, questioned the renaming of the country’s main airport claiming that it had violated the guidelines of the National Historical Institute (NHI) stating that no public places should be renamed after a person within 10 years of their death.
Gadon said in his petition that the airport was named after Aquino in Nov. 27, 1987, four years after he was killed, which he said should be declared illegal.
However, NHI guidelines state that the 10-year rule applies except “for highly exceptional reasons” which include “assassination in the service of the country,” “exceptional service to the nation,” and if one’s “death was a result of his patriotism.”
Gadon also said that Marcos’ fiercest critic was “never declared a hero” and as such an airport doesn’t need to be named after him.
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Read: Got Nothing Better To Do? Paolo Duterte and other congressmen want NAIA renamed
The lawyer is probably unaware of Republic Act No. 9256, a law that commemorates the death anniversary of Aquino every Aug. 21 as a tribute to his martyrdom. Many believe that Aquino’s death set off a chain of events that led to the People Power Revolution of 1986 which ended Marcos’ reign, one that’s marked by numerous human rights violations and corruption. Many also believe that recent efforts to rename NAIA are meant to rewrite history and erase the memory of the Marcos’ family’s wrongdoings.
Back in June, presidential son and Congressman Paolo Duterte, along with two other colleagues, filed House Bill No. 7031, which seeks to change NAIA’s name to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas (“Global Airport of the Philippines”).
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According to Duerte and his allies, it was necessary to rename NAIA to make it clear to travelers that the airport is located in the Philippines.
This article, Better Luck Next Time: Supreme Court junks Gadon’s plea on renaming NAIA, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia’s leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
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Got Nothing Better To Do? Paolo Duterte and other congressmen want NAIA renamed
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We’re still in the middle of a pandemic and the Philippines has yet to flatten the curve. Nurses in Cebu City are threatening to quit over fears they might get infected, while six places have been identified as emerging COVID-19 hotspots in the country. We’re facing a lot of problems right now, but three congressmen, led by presidential son Paolo Duterte, thought there was something equally important– renaming the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Duterte, along with colleagues Lord Allan Jay Velasco and Eric Yap, yesterday filed House Bill No. 7031, which seeks to change NAIA’s name to Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas (“Global Airport of the Philippines”).
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According to the bill— which has become the object of ridicule since it circulated last night— it was necessary to rename the NAIA to make it clear to travellers that it is located in the Philippines.
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“With the proposed name, the airport will easily be identified as the international doorway of the country, in view of it being in [the] Filipino language and branding it as the international airport of the Philippines,” the proposed law said.
NAIA used to be called Manila International Airport until it was renamed in 1987 to pay homage to Senator Ninoy Aquino, a fierce critic of dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was assassinated at its tarmac. However, most international airlines still refer to NAIA by its former official name.
As expected, the plan was criticized by Filipinos online, such as @corpomosis, who wrote, “If you all are going to rename NAIA, why not change it back to Manila International Airport instead of Pandecoco Pancake of the Philippines? I swear you guys try to make everything sound fancy, first all these Community Quarantines and now this.”
If you all are going to rename NAIA, why not change it back to Manila International Airport instead of Pandecoco Pancake ng Pilipinas? I swear you guys try to make everything sound fancy, first all these Community Quarantines and now this.
— woochi 🇵🇭 (@corpomosis) June 25, 2020
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Another person said the country has more important issues to solve. “There are a lot of problems. in the Philippines. Especially, COVID-19 you will rename NAIA instead of facing the problem we are facing. I am telling you Mr. President and other politician, I am sick tired of staying at home for the past 4 months. I miss the outdoors,” @pareciousss wrote.
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Sociologist Nicole Curato was a little more sarcastic. “Congress, you have my support. I renamed my house plant today to divert my attention from more immediate tasks. I *totally* get you. Cheers to our misplaced priorities,” she wrote.
Are you in favor of changing the airport’s name? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.
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9.10.2020
