Change PH to Maharlika? Colmenares tells Duterte to 'defend our sovereignty first'

Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares / photo from Scoopnest

Manila, Philippines - Bayan Muna chairman and Makabayan senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares has expressed doubt over President Rodrigo Duterte’s proposal to change the name of the Philippines to Maharlika.

Colmenares argued that “the Duterte administration cannot even defend its sovereignty?”

“Bago natin baguhin ang pangalan ng Pilipinas, ipagtanggol muna natin ang kanyang soberanya,” Colmenares said in a statement.

“It would be very superficial to change the name of the Philippines but our sovereignty is being trampled upon by China and the US. It is more important to defend our sovereignty like our forefathers did than just merely change the country’s name to appear more patriotic,” he said

President Duterte expressed on Monday his agreement with the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' supposed plan to change the country's name from the Philippines to Maharlika.

"Philippines because it was discovered by Magellan using the money of King Philip. Kaya pagdating ng ulol ginawang Philippines. Pero okay na ‘yan, balang araw palitan natin,” Duterte said in a speech in Buluan, Maguindanao.

“Actually, tama si Marcos. Panahon ni Marcos, tama talaga si Marcos. Gusto niya palitan [ng] Maharlika, the Republic of Maharlika because maharlika is a Malay word and it means more of a concept of serenity and peace,” the president added

Source: Politiko