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Filipino arrested for not standing during national anthem in movie theater

A man who refused to stand up while the Philippine national anthem was playing in a movie theater after the closing credits of a film was arrested by authorities.

Charge D’Affaires to Iraq Elmer Cato, who was also in the cinema, told a local news agency that he asked the man twice, identified as Bayle Einstein Gonzales, to give respect to the national anthem but refused and instead munched popcorn on his seat.

Cato asked help from police officials to arrest Gonzales, who has denied the allegations.

The 20-year-old offender will face charges of violating the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines and could be fined from P5,000 to P20,000 and jailed for as long as a year.

Earlier this year, House Bill 5224 mandating stricter compliance with the rules on showing reverence to national symbols was approved on third and final reading and transmitted to the Senate but was met with mixed reactions from legal experts.

One Comment

  1. Why this young man refused to stand? Can anyone ask his reason for not standing up? The news is not complete. It should be both sides of the coin.

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