Lagman wants to stop auction of Andres Bonifacio flag, heritage items

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Friday said the auction of Katipunan Supremo and national hero Andres Bonifacio's heritage items must be stopped.

Instead, the items should be acquired by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Lagman said.

"Heritage memorabilia and other historical articles must be acquired by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) on behalf of the government for posterity rather than allowing them to be auctioned to private collectors with the possibility that these historical articles will go to foreigners or foreign places beyond the access and appreciation of generations of Filipinos," he said in a statement.

The Leon Gallery is set to put in auction Bonifacio's "personal flag," which has "KKK" emblazoned on it, with a starting bid of P1 million. It is said to be the first Katipunan flag to be made.

KKK stands for Kataas-taasang, Kagalang-galangan, Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan, the revolutionary society formed to fight Spanish colonialism in the Philippines.

Sewn by Bonifacio's widow and fellow revolutionary Gregoria de Jesus, the flag used to hang in Bonifacio's study.

Also to be auctioned off is the Katipunan Decalogue or 10 Commandments of the revolutionary society said to be written by Bonifacio himself, and other historic Katipunan documents.

The Ceremonial Medal of the Supreme Council of the Katipunan will also be up for auction.

NHCP mandate

Lagman reminded that the NHCP is mandated to acquire important historical documents and objects.

"Under Section 7 of RA No. 10086 creating the NHCP, it is mandated, among others, to 'acquire important historical documents, collections, memorabilia and other objects that have significant historical value'," he said.

He added that the NHCP must endeavor to have the auction canceled "either by negotiation with Leon Gallery or by securing a court injunction."

Lagman also said that he will file a bill appropriating an initial amount of P1 billion in the budget of the NHCP so it could fulfill its mandate. — Jessica Bartolome/MDM, GMA News