Philippines to ban Madonna after she 'disrespected flag'?

Madonna Disrespects Philippines Flag At Manilla Concert
Madonna Disrespects Philippines Flag At Manilla Concert


The Philippines said it was considering banning Madonna from performing in the country after she 'disrespected the flag' during a concert in Manila.

Photos from one of her two concerts show the 57-year-old draped in the Philippine flag.

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In a statement to AFP, presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma said: "Our flag law is strict as we want to instill respect for the Philippine flag.

"This should he made clear to organisers and performers in concerts so that there will be no repetition of the incident."

Coloma first said that the government was "keen" on banning Madonna following the incident during her Rebel Heart tour, but he later said that the Philippines did not want to ban her.

The chief of the Heraldry Section of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Teodoro Atienza, told radio station dzBB on Friday that the flag had been "ridiculed" by the star.

"She also allowed the flag to touch the stage floor, which is another violation," he said.

A 1998 law prohibits wearing the Philippine flag "in whole or in part as a costume or uniform". Doing so can land the wearer with a one-year jail term.

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