UE says flag-sweeping done by its students, deplores desecration

The University of the East has confirmed the students involved in the viral flag-sweeping video are its wards and that the incident happened right inside its campus.

"The University of the East deplores in the strongest possible terms the unfortunate and utterly disrespectful deed done inside one of our classrooms that was video-recorded and posted online, all within February 9, 2016, and which has been seen and commented on by thousands of netizens,"  Ester Albano Garcia,UE President and Chief Academic Officer, said in a statement.

The act was said to have been done in between classes, and no teacher was around when the 22-second video was taken.

"We lament that this act, as well as its recording and sharing online, were done by students right inside our school-the entire scenario far removed from the education our institution imparts and the values we in the UE community uphold," she added.

The video went viral on Tuesday after it was forwarded to the Filipino Netizens Facebook page. A student was seen tying the flag to a stick, waving it a few and then sweeping it on the floor.

The act is a violation of Republic Act No. 8491, which specifically prohibits defacing or defiling the flag, casting contempt on any act that dishonor or ridicules it.

Read the University of the East's text in full:

The University of the East deplores in the strongest possible terms the unfortunate and utterly disrespectful deed done inside one of our classrooms that was video-recorded and posted online, all within February 9, 2016, and which has been seen and commented on by thousands of netizens. The act was done in between classes, and there was no teacher yet at the moment that the 22-second video was shot.

We lament that this act, as well as its recording and sharing online, were done by students right inside our school-the entire scenario far removed from the education our institution imparts and the values we in the UE community uphold. Rest assured that, following the requisite due process, the most appropriate sanction will be imposed upon the offenders. We share in the frustration of those who were offended by the video, primarily in its featured action's violation of Republic Act 8491, i.e., the Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines-and appeal to the public's calm and patience as we in the University deal with this matter with utmost urgency and seriousness.

-Aya Tantiangco/NB, GMA News