Flag Rites enforced for All DCPO camp occupants-Marantan says

DAVAO CITY (April 21) — After Davao City Police Director Colonel Hansel Marantan issued a strongly worded memorandum, many support units and agencies of the Philippine National Police (PNP) holding office inside Camp Domingo Leonor attended today’s traditional Monday Flag Raising Ceremony.

In a memorandum dated March 31 but distributed two weeks ago, Marantan invoked Republic Act (RA) No. 8491, otherwise known as the Flag Law, and the CSC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2012, to remind Camp Occupants to attend the flag-raising ceremony.

The memorandum stated “It has been observed  by the undersigned for the last nine months since his assumption as City Director  on July 2024, no personnel from PNP National Support Units and other agencies  inside DCPO Camp are participating the conduct of Flag Raising Ceremony as mandated under RA No. 8491 otherwise known   as the Flag law and ther CSC Memorandum Circular No. 19, Series of 2012.”

The memorandum clearly stated, “Flag Raising Activity is not only a command activity of the PNP but also a sacred duty of pledging one’s allegiance to the flag to be observed by all government offices, especially those inside the camps.  Non-observance of this legal obligation is not only a sign  of deteriorating discipline within our ranks but also an obvious disregard or violation of the  Flag Law and Civil Service rules .”

Yet, during the first week of implementation, the memorandum was still taken for granted, and one national agency even used the exit door to enter their office after Marantan padlocked the main entrance.

Worse, when he found out, he padlocked the secret door with a steel wire as it exposed the passage to civilians, which angered Marantan.

When asked why he padlocked the  “secret passage,” he reasoned, “It exposes entry to a camp, which is a violation of our own policy.”

He explained, “Preparing oneself for the Flag Raising is an act of discipline among government employees, especially among us law enforcers; it is a 30-minute activity.”

The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the PNP Forensic, the PNP Maritime, and the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) are among the agencies with offices inside the camp.

The Regional Director of NICA was the guest of honor in today’s activity.

But during today’s ceremony, a young police officer collapsed. “We need to exercise more because it was just a 30-minute activity. As police officers, we should always be prepared for any eventuality,” Marantan told Newsline Philippines.

All employees working inside the DCPO are required to observe the law. Those who arrive late are ordered to present their IDs, and proper disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with the Heraldic Law.

The amendment to Republic Act 8491, which prescribes the Code of Heraldic Items and Devices in the Philippines, is intended to foster love of country and emphasize the importance of adhering to standard expressions of respect for our national symbols.

The law stipulates the following penalties as provided in Sections 48-50:

– Failure or refusal to observe the provisions of this Act, and any violation of the corresponding rules and regulations issued by the Office of the President, shall be penalized by public censure. (Section 48)

– Any person or juridical entity that violates any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less than five thousand pesos (P5,000) nor more than twenty thousand pesos (P20,000), or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both. For any second and additional offenses, both a fine and imprisonment shall always be imposed. (Section 50).