MANILA, Philippines - At least 20 streamers bearing the images of the late President Corazon Aquino and her husband, slain former senator Benigno Aquino Jr., were torn down by at least six vandals along P. Burgos street and Roxas Boulevard in Manila starting Saturday.
Mayor Alfredo Lim, who is running for re-election, appealed to those behind the vandalism to spare the memory of the Aquinos from their “dirty politics.”
He ordered District Special Projects Unit (DSPU) chief Alex Gutierrez to conduct a thorough investigation to identify the suspects in the destruction of the streamers along P. Burgos street in Ermita, Manila.
Gutierrez said that based on a report from Manila Police District Station (MPD) 5 commander Romulo Sapitula, the incident took place at around 4 a.m. on Dec. 12.
Auto mechanic Edwin Mendoza told police he was waiting for a customer along P. Burgos street near the corner of Ma. Orosa Street in Ermita when he saw six unidentified men tearing down the streamers.
The men, Gutierrez said, wore decent clothes and fled on foot after tearing down at least 20 such streamers from P. Burgos to Roxas Boulevard.
Officials said each streamer costs at least P1,000 and takes several days to make.
The suspects reportedly ran up to A. Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila, where they boarded a waiting vehicle.
The streamers were ordered put up by Lim along the islands when President Aquino died.
‘Vandal’ caught
Meanwhile, police arrested a government-hired street maintenance worker caught tearing down streamers along Roxas Boulevard early yesterday morning.
Severino Reyes, 43, a contract worker for “Out of School Youth Serving Towards Economic Recovery (OYSTER),” was reportedly one of three men seen by roving policemen tearing down the Aquino streamers along Roxas Boulevard at the corner of United Nations Avenue at around 2 a.m.
The three reportedly ran away upon seeing the approaching policemen, but Reyes was cornered after a brief chase. Police recovered eight torn streamers at the center island.
Police conducted “discreet” patrols along Roxas Boulevard following information that the Aquino streamers were illegally being torn down, according to Ermita police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula.
“The unauthorized tearing down of government property constitutes vandalism and is punishable by law,” Sapitula said.
When reporters asked why and who ordered him to tear down the streamers, Reyes denied the allegation and claimed he was just drunk as the cause of his arrest.
However, some detainees claimed that Reyes told them he was paid P50 for every streamer torn down.
Police said Reyes is an aide of former policeman Benito Sy, an OYSTER inspector. Sy is reportedly the son of barangay chairman Manuel Sy, allegedly a close ally of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who is running for Manila mayor.