The Philippine Online Chronicles

Camp Crame, home of the Philippine National Police (PNP), has been declared a historical site by the National Historical Commission (NHC).

“With the historical events that unfolded in Camp Crame, it deserves the government’s recognition to serve as a source of inspiration and remembrance among all policemen,” said NHC chair Maria Serena Diokno, who gave a speech during the unveiling of a marker recognizing the significance of the four-hectare facility to the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos, who was head of the PNP’s forerunner, the Philippine Constabulary, during the Marcos regime said: “This (historical marker) reminds us [of] the important lessons we learned during [the 1986 EDSA Revolution].”

“It immortalized the spirit we had during those four glorious days of EDSA,” he said. “It was when a reformist or rebellious component of the Armed Forces won the support of the people.”

Formerly called Camp Murphy, Camp Crame served as the stronghold of Ramos and other rebel soldiers who defected from the Marcos administration in the days leading up to the first People Power Revolution.

Current PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo also thanked the NHC for the recognition, saying it was a timely honor for the PNP as it celebrates its 110th anniversary on August 8.

Camp Crame’s status as a historical site may also cut short plans by the current administration to privatize the camp, along with its neighbor Camp Aguinaldo, in a bid to generate at last P55.5 billion for the government.  Camp Aguinaldo is the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP’s) general headquarters.

“It would be hard for the government to sell it for other use,” said Ludovico Badoy, NHC executive director.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima announced the plan to privatize prime government properties back in January, including Camp Crame and Camp Aguinaldo.

Purisima said that both camps “should probably be redeveloped in order to build a bigger and better site of a consolidated military facility, and modernize the Armed Forces.”

In response, Batangas Representative Hermilando Mandanas filed a bill seeking to declare the two camps “historical, patriotic, and cultural symbols of national dignity,” removing them from the list of government assets that can be sold.

Senator Joker Arroyo added that the sale of military camps in the past hardly benefited the AFP, recalling the sale of Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City and Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

“We see the spanking Global City in Fort Bonifacio, home previously of the Army and now of big businesses. We see our AFP with 'jurassic' equipment and squatter housing for our troops,” Arroyo said.