Moviegoer arrested in Cavite for flag code violation

FILE: ‘IMPLAN BANDILA’. A moviegoer is shown sitting down as the Philippine National Anthem is being played at the City Mall Cinema in Imus City, Cavite on Thursday (September 6, 2018). The moviegoer was later arrested as the Cavite police has been implementing “Implan Bandila”, which targets violators of the country’s “Flag and Heraldic Code”. (Photo courtesy of Imus City PNP via PNA)

IMUS CITY, Cavite — A moviegoer was arrested after failing to stand up as the Philippine National Anthem was being played at the City Mall Cinema here Thursday evening.

Senior Supt. William Segun, the Cavite police director, identified the offender as Ria Chua Bautista, 28, food technologist and resident of Perpetual Village 7 in Barangay Mambog 5 in Bacoor City.

Bautista was the lone offender based on video footage and screenshot during the Cavite police’s simultaneous implementation of “Implan Bandila” across cinemas in the province.

Segun said their “Implan Bandila” is enforced in pursuit of the implementation of Republic Act No. 8491, or the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines” on orders of Police Regional Office 4-A (Calabarzon) Director, Chief Supt. Edward Carranza.

Carranza directed the Calabarzon police to enforce the law in all theaters, cinemas and public events across the region to instill a culture of patriotism and sense of duty.

According to Segun, the police operatives observed that most of the audience in movie theaters respected the singing of the Philippine National Anthem.

Only Bautista was the reported offender of the “Flag and Heraldic Code” and was accosted by the authorities after their “Bandila” operation.

Earlier on Wednesday, police arrested 34 moviegoers in Lemery, Batangas also for showing disrespect while the Philippine National Anthem was being played before a film screening of “The How’s of Us” in a local cinema.

Lemery municipal police chief, Chief Insp. Alfie M. Salang, reported to Batangas police director, Senior Supt. Edwin Quilates, that the local police operation “Oplan Bandila” was conducted in the movie house at a mall in Barangay Malinis. (Dennis Abrina/PNA)