ARLINGTON, TEXAS – While 51,000 fans in attendance and a worldwide television audience were enjoying Arnel Pineda belt out the national anthem of The Philippines Saturday night just before the main event of Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium, something illegal was amiss.
Pineda, lead singer of the musical group Journey was allegedly breaking the law by his interpretation of the song and the situation is being investigated by federal prosecutors of the National Historic Institute (NHI) as early as today back in The Philippines.
Media Giant GMA News.TV reports charges against Pineda are already being considered.
In a radio interview Monday, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra said the prosecutors will take first crack at the complaint that the NHI threatened to file against Pineda for changing the tone and tempo of the anthem when he sang it.
Elyas Isabelo Salanga, a reporter from Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) quoted the particular law that Pineda allegedly broke.
The Institute is mandated to ensure that the National Anthem, the Philippine flag, and its national symbols are respected.
It adheres to Republic Act 8491 (under Section 37) or the Flag and Heraldic Code, which states: “The national anthem must be sung in accordance with the original musical arrangement of composer Julian Felipe, who gave it a marching tempo. Violators may be fined P5,000 to P20,000 or jailed for a year.”
