Sports heroes may be buried at Libingan ng mga Bayani

A bill seeking to allow Filipino athletes to be interred at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani,” a cemetery exclusively for heroes and martyrs, has been approved by the House of Representatives.

House Bill 11229, or the proposed “Commemoration of Filipino Sports Heroes Act,” was unanimously approved on third and final reading late Monday with a total of 196 affirmative votes.

The measure, principally authored by Surigao del Norte Rep. Ace Barbers, was a consolidation of three similar bills.

If passed into law, deceased athletes, regardless of whether professional, amateur, or with disabilities, would be allowed to be laid to rest at the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” in recognition of their dedication and sacrifices for the country.

The bill defines them as “sports heroes” who have distinguished themselves in their particular field of sports, possessed good moral character and integrity, won any medal in the Olympics or Paralympic Games or a World Championship in any professional sports competition sanctioned by any of the international governing 15bodies of various sports, and recognized as such by the Philippine Sports Commission 16 (PSC) and Games and Amusements Board.

“Sports heroes” may also refer to Filipino coaches, or trainers who were inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

To be eligible, an athlete must be a Filipino citizen by birth, or a former Filipino citizen by birth and naturalized in another country but re-acquired Philippine citizenship, making them dual citizens.

The proposed law shall mandate the PSC to establish a screening committee that will determine and recommend qualified Filipino sports heroes. A certificate of eligibility for interment will be issued thereafter.

If passed into law, deceased athletes, regardless of whether professional, amateur, or with disabilities, would be allowed to be laid to rest at the 'Libingan ng mga Bayani' in recognition of their dedication and sacrifices for the country.

Nonetheless, the family of the deceased athletes may waive the privilege.

The Libingan ng mga Bayani was established in 1947 initially as the Republic Memorial Cemetery in honor of the fallen Filipino soldiers who fought and died in World War II.

Under the regulations of the AFP, only Presidents or commander-in-chief, Medal of Valor awardees, secretaries of national defense, AFP chiefs of staff, and generals/flag officers of the AFP are qualified to be interred at the 102-hectare cemetery.

Active and retired military personnel of the AFP, including active draftees and trainees who died in the line of duty, and active reservists and CAFGU Active Auxiliary who died in combat-related activities are also qualified.

Also eligible are active and retired military personnel of the AFP including active draftees and trainees, active reservists, and CAFGU Active Auxiliary who died in the line of duty, former members of the AFP who laterally entered the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police, veterans of the Philippine Revolution, dignitaries, statesmen and national artists.