By Erma Edera
The city council of Manila has passed a resolution, declaring 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 BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"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 on Friday night.
Last November 30, four members of Panday Sining, including a minor, were arrested by Manila Police after they were allegedly caught vandalizing the LRT post located along Recto Avenue.
On the other hand, militant activist group Anakbayan said the local government of Manila should also include gangs or individuals who put graffiti 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 in a statement.
Artists and musicians are also raising funds to help post bail for the three activists who remain in detention a week.
Panday Sining also 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 earlier said the cultural youth group should face the full force of the law for vandalizing the walls of U.N. Avenue and Lagusnilad underpass.
Domagoso said that he already warned the members of Panday Sining not to wage their “art protest” or vandalism in Manila. However, they still decided to continue what they were doing.
The Mayor also said that it took 15 years before the local government was finally able to clean the underpass to make it more accessible and comfortable to walk through for commuters.