House panel OKs bill opposing Aguinaldo, Crame sale

A House of Representatives committee has approved a bill opposing the sale of military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo and police headquarters in Camp Crame, both in Quezon City. The House Committee on Basic Education approved on Monday House Bill 3938, filed by Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, declaring the two sites as “national and cultural treasures" and keeping it from being privatized. “The approval of the bill is an opportune recognition of the significance of these military camps to our history as a people," Mandanas said in a statement Wednesday. By virtue of HB 3938, once camps Crame and Aguinaldo are declared as national treasures then these can no longer be sold, leased, exchanged, or developed under a joint venture. Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima last month said the government started talks with private institutions on the sale on the camps Crame and Aguinaldo and, as well as three prison facilities. As government has planned, money from the privatization of those properties will be used to modernize the military and the police. With HB 3938 approved by the House basic education committee, it will now be calendared for when it shall get its day in plenary for lawmakers to discuss and vote on it. — VS, GMANews.TV