Noy-Bi banners at MRT stations torn down due to ad row

MANILA, Philippines - Congratulatory banners for President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay at the EDSA-bound Metro Rail Transit (MRT) were torn down Wednesday morning, the victims of a brewing row over the ownership of the advertising rights at the rail line.

Bing Kimpo, official spokesperson of advertising firm Trackworks, said they were preparing to take legal action against another advertising firm, Media Puzzle, Inc., for the removal of the congratulatory banners early Wednesday morning, several hours before Aquino’s inauguration.

Kimpo said they are in a quandary why Media Puzzle torn down the Noynoy – Binay ads when Trackworks exclusively owns the advertising rights and structures along the MRT-3 line on EDSA.

Trackworks is not discounting that the dismantling of the Aquino-Binay banners may be politically motivated, as Media Puzzle has been reportedly identified with the previous administration.

Trackworks earlier filed criminal charges against Media Puzzle and its alleged foreign partners, Barclay Nettlefold and David Edmonds, for alleged usurpation of the company’s private property.

Trackworks said it built and paid for the advertising structures and frames for banners, billboards and posters on the MRT, and recorded them as its real property.