The city council of Manila has passed a resolution declaring the youth group “Panday Sining” as “persona non grata” in the nation’s capital, days after some members of the group were arrested by police for defacing walls and infrastructure in Manila.
“Manila City Council passes resolution declaring militant group ‘Panday Sining’ as persona non grata in the nation’s capital,” the Manila Public Information Office announced.
Last Nov. 30, four members of Panday Sining, including a minor, were arrested by the Manila Police District after they were caught vandalizing a Light Railways Transit post on Recto Ave.
Militant activist group Anakbayan decried the persona non grata tag imposed on them.
They said the city government of Manila should also include gangs or individuals who put graffiti on walls in public places as persona non grata.
“Manila’s walls have long been defaced by countless tarpaulins of politicians, symbols of street gangs, and giant billboards, but it is the political messages of these cultural activists are what the state is going after,” the group said.
Artists and musicians have been raising funds to help post bail for the activists who remain in detention a week after they were arrested.
Panday Sining called on “our fellow artista ng bayan (fellow artists of the nation)” to help raise funds for the arrested activists. The artists’ group is selling artworks online to raise funds.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso had earlier said the cultural youth group should face the full force of the law for vandalizing walls on UN Ave. and Lagusnilad Underpass in front of the Manila City Hall.
Domagoso said that he warned the members of Panday Sining not to do their “art protest” or vandalism in Manila.
However, they still decided to continue what they are doing.
The Manila mayor also said that it took 15 years before the city government was finally able to clean the underpass to make it more accessible for commuters. (Erma Edera)