ILLUSTRATION BY STEPH BRAVO
For ignoring the national anthem played inside a theater in Batangas province, 34 moviegoers are now in trouble, facing fines or a year in prison.
Chief Insp. Alfie Salang, police chief of Lemery town, said policemen took videos and photos of the moviegoers shortly before the screening of a romantic flick at a shopping mall on Wednesday afternoon.
After the national anthem was played and the movie was about to start, the police began arresting those who did not stand up.
Respecting PH flag
The 20-year-old Republic Act No. 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, requires the public to sing with fervor the national anthem, 鈥淟upang Hinirang,鈥� during public gatherings, such as at the initial and last screening of films or theater performances.
Upon conviction, the penalties include a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P20,000 or one year imprisonment.
Netizens were quick to chime in, as some said the arrest ought to teach the 鈥渂asic duties of Filipinos.鈥�
Others, however, described it as a prelude to a 鈥渟tate-enforced nationalism.鈥�
鈥淭he arrest is overkill. It would be better if they (offenders) were reminded, rather than arrest them at once,鈥� said Renato Reyes of the militant Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.
Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson for the Calabarzon police, said 鈥淥plan Bandila鈥� only enforced what was stated in the law that people seemed to had long ignored. 鈥擬ARICAR CINCO