Graffiti or writings on the walls have no place in Pasay City.
This was the assurance made by Mayor Imelda Rubiano as she warned individuals “with a penchant for writing or drawing on walls” that her administration, in coordination with the Pasay City police, is strictly enforcing an ordinance against vandalism.
The warning came a few days after a Manila underpass near City Hall was vandalized by a group critical of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The incident drew the ire of Manila residents and Mayor Francisco Domagoso.
Rubiano said City Ordinance 1496 is being enforced in Pasay and apprehended violators would need to either pay a fine or spend time in jail or community service.
“Pasay is a travel city. Volumes of people come here either because our city serves as their jumping-off point to other places, or they visit attractions and other key centers here,” she said.
“We are thus exerting all efforts to make our city clean, beautiful and attractive to visitors. For this, we are keen on instilling discipline, not only among Pasayeños, but also among those who are visiting our city,” the city chief executive added.
City Ordinance 1496 defines vandalism as “any form of writing, scribbling, scrawling or drawing…of any word, sign, or logo…or painting, spraying or splashing of paints, inks or coloring materials…or scratching or etching with the use of pointed or sharp object…or pasting or posting of any campaign or advertising materials on any private or public wall, fence, gate, building or legitimate signs, billboards or public announcements or removing or defacing any legitimate signs, billboards of public announcements…without written consent of the owner.”
It also states that vandalism “is a sign of disorder in a community and an open and direct challenge to authorities.”
Mayor Rubiano was co-sponsor of City Ordinance 1496, which was passed by the City Council when she was councilor.
The ordinance imposes penalties ranging from a fine of P1,000 up to imprisonment of not more than six months. It further provides that if the violator is below 18 years old, he or she shall be fined the amount of P1,000 in addition to the community service consisting of removing, cleaning and repainting to its former condition the damaged wall, gate and building at the expense of the violator.
Rubiano noted that Interior Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya was quoted as saying that “vandalism is a form of a 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.”