Common Prohibited Acts under RA 8491 filipinos commonly violate

1. Disrespecting and not being able to stand during the singing of Philippine National Anthem can
lead you to jail

 Refusing to stand up and face the flag could land you in jail during the singing of the
Philippine national anthem.
THIRTY-FOUR individuals were arrested after they refused to stand up for the national anthem 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.

Section 38 of RA 8491 states that 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. (SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1762933

 Man arrested for not standing for national anthem at cinema

MANILA - A man was arrested on Saturday after refusing to stand while the national anthem was sung
inside a movie theater in Angeles, Pampanga.

Bayle Einstein Gonzales, 20, was seated in front of Chargé d'Affaires Elmer Cato when the anthem was
sung, but he declined to stand up despite being asked to show respect twice.

In a Facebook post, Cato said he "confronted" Gonzales "for not bothering to rise for the Philippine
national anthem" while the rest of the audience did, including foreigners.

"I asked him twice to stand up but he just would not. I just could not let the disrespect of the flag and the
national anthem by someone I initially thought was a foreign national pass," he said.
"I was so agitated I was not really able to enjoy the movie. I had to do something to teach this Filipino a
lesson. And I did," Cato added.

Chief Inspector Aris Gonzales, commander of Angeles City Police Station 4, said the 20-year old violated
the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, which prescribed that "all persons shall stand at attention
and face the Philippine flag" when the national anthem is played at a public gathering.

He could be fined from P5,000 to P20,000 and/or be imprisoned up to a year.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/20/17/man-arrested-for-not-standing-for-national-anthem-at-
cinema

 2 drivers face raps for ignoring flag ceremony

The Municipal Government of San Fernando, Cebu, is planning to file charges against two bus drivers
after allegedly speeding off while the town officials were holding a flag raising ceremony last Monday,
September 17.

San Fernando officials led by Mayor Lakambini Reluya said the two bus drivers, who are driving for Britt
Bus Liners, could be charged with violation of Republic Act 8491, or the Flag and Heraldic Code, for
disrespecting the Philippine flag.

Novem Louie Taping, San Fernando Traffic Enforcement Group (SFTEG) head, told SunStar Cebu that
Reluya and municipal employees were holding a flag raising ceremony in front of the town hall at 8 a.m.
of September 17 when the incident happened.

Traffic enforcers Fedelito Opada and Pepito Tangaro, who were assigned to manage traffic at the area
near the municipal hall, then signalled to vehicles passing by the highway to stop while the Philippine
national anthem was sung.

But while the Philippine national anthem was being sung, two buses driven by Arnel Maning and another
unidentified driver defied the traffic enforcers’ signal, suddenly counterflowed to the opposite lane, and
sped toward Cebu City.
Taping said Opada and Tangaro were almost hit by the two speeding buses but luckily was able to evade
immediately.

Following the incident, Taping was ordered by Mayor Reluya to report the matter to the local police.

They also coordinated with Capitol traffic management focal person and Cebu South Bus Terminal
(CSBT) head Jonathan Tumulak to locate the two drivers, who were driving the buses with the body
numbers F8 and F9.

In a separate interview, Ricardo Reluya, the mayor’s husband and current Association of Barangay
Councils (ABC) president, told SunStar Cebu that they were told by Tumulak that he was able to locate
the two drivers and have asked them to issue a public apology.

The two drivers were also suspended by their operator for their antics and have been prevented by
Tumulak to enter the CSBT until such time they are able to serve their penalty, Reluya said.

But Reluya is determined that the municipality will not allow such antics to continue.

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1764869