Known best as the National Pantheon, the official name is Panteon de la Patria, or Pantheon of the Homeland. In an interview in El Dia, the director, Professor Jose del Monte Peguero says that the Pantheon is the place where key figures in Dominican history are buried. He made the point that a bill passed in the Chamber of Deputies violates the procedures established for the burial there when voting for a bill that orders 1965 Revolution hero Francisco Caamano Deno to be buried there. He said that the procedure establishes that it is the Executive Branch that should make the request after consulting with the Dominican Academy of History. He said that a mere decree from the President is enough for a person to be buried there.
Adding to the subject, Retired Air Force General Juan Pou said that the remains of Francisco Caamano Deno were burned and scattered over the hills of Nizaito. He told Listin Diario that he was present when the body of Colonel Caamano was cremated at Loma Nizaito. He said that neither the ashes nor the body remains exist and thus the body cannot be buried at the Pantheon, unless in a symbolic way.
But relative Claudio Caamano says that while the body was burned, some bones remained, including part of the skull that was found in a tomb where Lalane Jose and Perez Vargas were buried. He explained that an order was received to burn the body but that it was raining and humid and not all the body burned.
The colonial mansion was built in 1715-1716 as a temple for Jesuit priests. At the site, the national anthem is played at noon. The pantheon is located across from the Hostal Nicolas de Ovando on Calle Las Damas.
The national heroes who are buried there are:
Independence heroes (from Spain and Haiti): General Juan Sanchez Ramirez, Jose Nunez de Caceres, Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo, Pedro Alejandrino Pina, Juan Isidro Perez, Felix Maria Ruiz, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Socorro Sanchez, Balbina de Pena, Admiral Juan Alejandro Acosta, Admiral Juan Bautista Cambiaso, Concepcion Bona, General Jose Joaquin Puello, General Jose Maria Gabral, Gabino Puello, Angel Perdomo, General Pedro Santana. The heroes of the restoration (independence from Spain): General Gregorio Luperon, General Benito Moncion, General Santiago Rodriguez, General Gaspar Polanco, General Antonio Batista, Colonel Jose Pierre Thomas, Colonel Carlos de Lara, Commander Jose Vidal Pichardo, Ulises Francisco Espaillat, Lieutenant Ambrosio de la Cruz, Eugenio Perdomo, Pedro Ignacio Espaillat, General Jose Antonio Salcedo, Pedro Francisco Bono and Benigno Filomeno de Rojas.
Presidents of the Republic: President Francisco Henriquez Carvajal and President Francisco Gregorio Billini
Historians: Jose Gabriel Garcia, Antonio Delmonte y Tejada
www.listin.com.do/la-republica/2012/12/7/257875/Asegura-cadaver-de-Caamanofue-incinerado-y-no-hay-restos