No law has been enacted proclaiming an official national hero, Zarate said. In 1993, a National Heroes Committee was formed by Executive Order No. A number of historians argue that Bonifacio can be regarded as the first president because the Katipunan was a national government. It is but right and just to recognize the Gat Andres Bonifacio as the hero president who led and died for the Philippines,” Zarate said. “The Bonifacio for First President petition only aims to prove an existence of a government of a national character before General Emilio Aguinaldo.

Source: Manila Times August 28, 2016 16:52 UTC