House okays bill preventing sale of military camps

MANILA, Philippines - The House committee on basic education has approved a bill that would prevent the sale of Camp Crame, the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters, and Camp Aguinaldo, headquarters of the Armed Forces.

The panel, chaired by Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero, approved on Monday House Bill 3938 declaring the two sites as “national and cultural treasures” and banned the sale of the prime lots along EDSA in Quezon City.

The bill is authored by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima earlier disclosed that the government plans to sell the two installations to raise funds to modernize the Armed Forces and the PNP.

“The approval of the bill is an opportune recognition of the significance of these military camps to our history as a people,” Mandanas said.

Under the bill, Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo will be declared as “national treasures” and cannot be sold, leased, exchanged, or developed under a joint venture.

The measure is expected to be reported out in the plenary in the coming weeks.