34 movie goers arrested for ignoring national anthem

THIRTY-FOUR individuals were arrested after refusing to stand up as the “Lupang Hinirang” is being played on prior to the showing of a movie in a Batangas mall cinema on Wednesday, September 5, a police official said.

Batangas Police Chief Edwin Quilates said the 34 persons were arrested before the 2 p.m. screening of the movie “The Hows of Us” at the Xentro Mall, Barangay Malinis in Lemery, Batangas.

“Operatives of the police station conducted operation against violators of Republic Act (RA) 8491 at said place that resulted in the arrest of the suspects wherein they did not stand in attention and disrespected the Philippine National anthem while it was being played prior to the showing of movie film entitled The Hows of Us,” the police said in its report.

They were brought to the Lemery police station for proper disposition.

Quilates said charges for violation of the RA 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines will be filed before the court on Thursday, September 6.

In the Section 38 of RA 8491, it said the singing of the national anthem “must be done with fervor.”

“As a sign of respect, all persons shall stand at attention and face the Philippine flag, if there is one displayed, and if there is none, they shall face the band or the conductor. At the first note, all persons shall execute a salute by placing their right palms over their left chests. Those in military, scouting, citizen’s military training and security guard uniforms shall give the salute prescribed by their regulations. The salute shall be completed upon the last note of the anthem,” the law read.

Violating the said law is punishable by a fine of P5,000 to P20,000, or by up to a year in prison, or both depending on the discretion of the court.