• The University of the East has dismissed the students involved in the viral ‘flag-mopping’ video
• The school described the incident as regrettable and vows to implement measures to avoid similar controversy in the future
• The decision was reached during a monthly meeting of the UE’s Board of Trustees nine days after the clip went viral
MANILA, Philippines – The University of the East has dismissed the students who disrespected the Philippine flag in viral video by using it to mop the floor.
The students’ act drew flak online after the clip went viral on social media early this month.
In a statement on its Facebook page, UE said the university’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted for the dismissal of the high school students for defiling the flag which is highly regarded as a national symbol.
“The students involved were meted the sanction of dismissal in view of the gravity of their infraction, which is not only a direct affront to the University of the East community but to the entire country’s ideals and traditions as well,” the statement read.
The decision was supposedly reached during the monthly meeting by the members of the Board of Trustees held last February 18.
Earlier, a university official admitted in a radio program that the boys in the controversial video are their students. The school also vowed to investigate the incident, while at the same time condemning the disrespectful act “in the strongest term possible”.
In the statement dated February 22 and signed by Dr. Ester Albano Garcia, UE President and Chief Academic Officer, the school described the episode as ‘regrettable’, but nevertheless appreciated the chance given to the school to reaffirm its commitment to “molding the youth of the land into citizens imbued not just with intelligence but also wisdom.”
The school also vowed to strengthen its activities that will seek to inculcate respect to the country’s national symbols such as the Philippine flag and the national anthem.
“(We) shall implement measures that shall monitor the strict compliance and observance to the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines by our students and members of the academic and non-academic personnel,” the statement added.
The decision came almost two weeks since the video was uploaded on a Facebook page on February 9.
Read UE’s full statement here.
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