DAVAO CITY, Philippines — More than 16, 000 Filipinos signed an online petition to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport back to its original name, the Manila International Airport.
The online petition was created by a certain Rodrigo Domingo, a Filipino entrepreneur based in Cagayan de Oro. As of Mondayafternoon, the petition at Change.org has 16,498 supporters as it targeting to reach 25, 000 before it would be submitted to Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Congress.
“Back in 1987, Manila International Airport (MIA) was renamed to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) through Republic Act No. 6639 which was enacted without executive approval on November 27, 1987,” the petition reads.
The petition argued that RA 6639 was devoid of valid reason to rename the airport after Ninoy Aquino Jr. “Reading RA 6639, one can’t find a valid reason why the country’s main airport should be named after Ninoy Aquino, Jr., who was a former senator and convicted in 1977 by a military court of subversion and murder. “
Maria Victoriano Ferro from Redwood City in California, one of those who signed the petition, believes the airport should not be named Ninoy Aquino.
“I’m not an Aquino hater actually. My grandparents were friends with Ninoy. I just don’t think his name should be on Manila’s airport because his ideology doesn’t represent the entire nation,” said Victoriano.
For Hayley Holbrook, a Filipino overseas worker from Dubai, said, “It’s only fair to change the name of our International Airport back to Manila International Airport. It’s not about the Ninoy Aquino people to give the name for it. It’s about our country.”
Muntinlupa resident Martha Locsin signed the petition to oppose the practice of naming street name to political personalities.
“I’m signing because MIA is the original name and we should have preserved history. Changing of street name and establishment to prominent political figures should not have been allowed,” Locsin said.
Meanwhile, Domingo, in the petition, claims that Aquino is not worthy to be emulated as a hero.
“Ninoy Aquino is not a hero/patriot for inspiration and emulation of this generation and generations still unborn. He was clearly a politician and by naming the Philippine’s main airport to his name is an insult to all Filipino heroes who died for the country and not for political ambition,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
