Aguinaldo was not taken out of new currency series, BSP clarifies

The first Philippine President Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo was not removed from the New Generation Currency series of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), a top official of the central bank clarified on Friday.

"Hindi natin tinanggal si Gen. Aguinaldo mula sa series ng ating mga salapi. Inalis lang natin siya sa coin, inilipat lang natin siya sa P200 bill," BSP Deputy Governor for Monetary Stability Sector Diwa Guinigundo told reporters on the sidelines of a briefing in Manila on Friday.

This comes after the BSP released in advance the New Generation P5 coin, which features Philippine revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio. 

The picture of Bonifacio is replacing the image of Aguinaldo in the current denomination of the P5 coin.

"Nakipag-usap kami, nakipag-consult kami sa ilang historians so basically ang ginawa natin ngayon kasi natanggal doon si Aguinaldo nilagay natin si Aguinaldo sa 200-peso bill at nandon siya sa pagdedeklara ng ating independence noong June 12, 1898.," Guinigundo said.

"Kung matatandaan natin ang P200 bill, 'yan ay may kaugnayan sa kalayaan. Nandiyan yung Edsa Revolution Part II, 'yung declaration ng idependence sa Kawit, Cavite," he said.

The P200 bill currently features the image of President Diosdado Macapagal.

"Now, bakit natin sinama 'yun kay Macapagal? Because si Presidente Macapagal ang siyang nagbalik ng celebration ng ating independence from July 4 to June 12," Guinigundo said. — MDM, GMA News