MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said it will intensify the crackdown on vandals on orders from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“The PNP will comply with the order and intensify operations against vandals for their utter disregard of the law, defacement of government properties, and sowing disorder in our peaceful communities,” PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said in a statement on Wednesday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier directed the PNP to arrest vandals after four members of youth group Panday Sining were arrested in Manila for painting messages denouncing political repression against activists on Light Rail Transit posts along Recto Avenue in Manila.
DILG Spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said Año’s directive was not meant to stop freedom of expression, citing that the government respects criticisms.
“‘Yung directive ni Secretary Año na hulihin yung nagvandalism [on arresting vandals], this is not a clamp-on dissent. This is not a clamp on freedom of expression,” Malaya said in a press conference at DILG Center in Quezon City.
“We are open to criticisms. Nung Southeast Asian (SEA) Games may opinion lahat [During the SEA Games, everyone has an opinion.. Nag-vi-viral lahat ng bagay [Everything is going viral] and the government is not complaining,” Malaya added.
Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for civil-military operations, said they are not against dissent but they will act on any individuals who will try to overthrow the government and recruit people in rebel groups.
“What we want to make sure people should understand, hindi polisiya ng gobyerno magclamp down on dissent. Kung gusto niyo magrally diyan, magrally kayo diyan maghapon basta legitimate yung issues na nire-raise niyo,” Parlade said during the DILG forum.
[The government’s policy is not clamp down on dissent. If you want to stage a protest, then go ahead as long as the issues being raised are legitimate.]
“Pero the moment you start shouting, ‘ibagsak ang gobyerno at sumali sa NPA’ [shutdown the government and join the New People’s Army] then that is something else,” Parlade said.