Moviegoer ignores nat’l anthem, gets arrested

CLARK FREEPORT  , Philippines  —  A diplomat arrested a moviegoer who refused to stand up when the Philippine national anthem was being played in a cinema here on Friday.

Bayle Einstein Gonzalez, 20, of Paniqui, Tarlac, was arrested by Elmer Cato, charge d’affaires of the Philippine embassy in Iraq, who was in the cinema with a relative to watch “Justice League.”

 In a complaint filed before the city police, Cato said he was compelled to use his power of citizen’s arrest against Gonzalez for violating Republic Act (RA) 8491 or the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines.

Cato said Gonzalez remained in his seat, eating popcorn as the rest of the moviegoers stood up to honor the flag.

He said he asked Gonzalez to stand up, but the man ignored him.

“After the anthem was played, I asked him if he was a Filipino, but Gonzalez ignored me again,” Cato said.

Realizing Gonzalez was a Filipino, Cato told him that he disrespected the Philippine flag.

He said he sent a text message to Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, a former human rights lawyer, asking if citizen’s arrest can be used against Gonzalez.

After receiving Pamintuan’s reply, Cato arrested Gonzalez and the police arrived to take the offender away.

Violators of RA 8491 face imprisonment or fines, or both.