The Department of the Interior and Local Government has scored the group that vandalized the walls of Lagusnilad underpass in Manila as it urged the country’s local government units (LGU) to enforce their respective ordinances against vandalism in line with the #DisiplinaMuna campaign.
DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya described as deplorable the vandalism committed on the newly refurbished Lagusnilad underpass.
LGUs should, therefore, see to it that they strictly enforce their laws on vandalism so that vandals will face the consequences of their actions,” Malaya said.
He asked the LGUs to “revisit and ensure the implementation of their ordinances sanctioning vandalism and to make use of their closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in identifying and catching vandals’’.
Malaya also requested the Philippine National Police (PNP) to apprehend those found violating laws and ordinances.
In expressing his disgust, Malaya stressed that vandalism is a form of malicious mischief under Article 327 of the Revised Penal Code that includes the act of causing damage to a property or any other thing used in common by the public.
He cited Marikina City for having few cases of vandalism because of its effective anti-vandalism drive in their locality and their ordinance that fines violators.
Reports revealed that Marikina City had only three people apprehended for violation in 2018.
He pointed out that there are many ways to express anyone’s views on social concerns and that should not include dirtying up public places or properties.
“While we respect the rights of these organizations to express their views and opinion, that right is not absolute,’’ alaya noted.
“With the advent of social media, vandalism like this have directed attention to the obnoxiousness of their method rather than the meaning of their message,” he added.
He urged “these organizations to instead focus their energies to cleaning up their barangays, Manila Bay Clean Up, anti-smoking campaign and other worthwhile activities rather than doing vandalism that actually helps no one’’. (Chito Chavez)
